In a landmark address at the opening ceremony of the 38th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly, Ghana’s President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, passionately advocated for reparatory justice for Africans and people of African descent.
The summit, held under the theme “Justice for Africans and the People of African Descent through Reparations,” marks a pivotal moment in the AU’s commitment to addressing historical injustices stemming from slavery and colonialism.
President Mahama began by acknowledging the collective decision made during the 37th Ordinary Session in February 2024 to dedicate the year 2025 to reparatory justice.
According to him, this initiative aligns with the AU’s Agenda 2063, which envisions an integrated, peaceful, and prosperous Africa.
“This decision underscores our collective commitment to addressing the historical injustices and alliance with our brothers’ struggle for liberation, unity, and socioeconomic empowerment as enshrined in Agenda 2063, the Africa we want. A vision for an integrated, peaceful, and prosperous continent.”
Ghana’s President, HE John Dramani Mahama
Highlighting the atrocities of the transatlantic slave trade, President Mahama noted that over 12.5 million Africans were forcibly displaced, with an estimated 2 million perishing during the Middle Passage.
He emphasized that the legacies of slavery, colonialism, apartheid, genocide, and neo-colonial exploitation have left enduring scars on African societies, manifesting as economic disparities, social inequalities, systemic discrimination, and racial prejudices.
“Addressing these challenges requires more than just acknowledging them, it demands action. The economic impact of colonialism on Africa has been profound. Historical estimates suggest that the continent lost trillions of dollars in both human and material resources due to colonial exploitation.
“The forced extraction of wealth, which included minerals, cash crops, and labor, deprived African nations of the capital and infrastructure necessary for sustainable development.”
Ghana’s President, HE John Dramani Mahama
Accra Reparations Conference
Reflecting on recent efforts, President Mahama recounted the Accra Reparations Conference, which Ghana hosted in November 2023.
This historic gathering united African heads of state, scholars, and representatives from the global African diaspora to advance the reparations movement.
The conference underscored the urgent need for comprehensive reparatory justice and established a foundation for robust advocacy and policy frameworks.
The 2025 AU theme serves as a clarion call to mobilize efforts toward reparatory justice, aiming to restore the dignity, rights, and well-being of Africans and their descendants.
President Mahama emphasized that reparations encompass not only financial compensation but also restitution, rehabilitation, and guarantees of non-repetition.
He stressed the importance of truth-telling, historical accountability, and restoring agency to marginalized communities.
“Achieving justice requires multi-stakeholder collaboration,” President Mahama stated, inviting AU member states, regional economic communities, the global African diaspora, civil society organizations, academia, the private sector, and international partners to engage in this transformative endeavour.
He outlined a comprehensive roadmap that includes mobilizing political will, fostering partnerships, engaging in resource mobilization, elevating awareness, and encouraging dialogue among experts, policymakers, historians, and affected communities.
In his concluding remarks, President Mahama reaffirmed Ghana’s unwavering support for the reparatory justice initiative.
“Let us seize this moment with the determination it deserves as we work together towards a future that is fair, just, and equitable for all Africans and people of African descent”.
Ghana’s President, HE John Dramani Mahama
The AU’s renewed focus on reparations comes amid a global discourse on historical injustices. Despite resistance from former colonial powers, African leaders remain steadfast in their pursuit of acknowledgement and redress for the enduring impacts of slavery and colonialism.
The collaborative efforts between the AU and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) further amplify the call for reparatory justice on the international stage.
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