By Celestine Avi and Seth Eyiah
President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to Pan-Africanism, saying the country must take pride in its historic role in Africa’s liberation and renewed efforts to advance continental unity.
Speaking at a diaspora town hall meeting with the Ghanaian community in the United Kingdom, President Mahama said Ghana’s legacy in the liberation struggle and Pan-African advocacy places it once again at the forefront of Africa’s integration agenda.
“There is a time when we must be proud to be Ghanaian, not only because our economy is doing well, but because we are making progress towards the country our forebears dreamed of,” he said.
The President highlighted Ghana’s recent leadership role in global discussions on reparations, noting that the country has become a leading voice for reparatory justice and historical accountability.
He recalled Ghana’s push at the United Nations to have the transatlantic slave trade recognised as a “grievous crime against humanity,” a resolution he said was successfully adopted with 123 votes.
“Many people believed we could not get that support, but we did,” he stated, adding that the decision formally acknowledges the historical injustices suffered by Africans and their descendants.
President Mahama further announced that Ghana will host a follow-up conference in June dubbed the “Next Steps” dialogue, aimed at charting practical measures after the UN resolution. The forum will bring together representatives from the Caribbean and the global African diaspora to deliberate on reparatory justice and future collaboration.
He also underscored the importance of African unity and economic integration, cautioning that no African country can achieve meaningful development in isolation.
“There is no way any African country can achieve the kind of progress it needs without working with others,” he said, referencing the African Continental Free Trade Area as a key framework for boosting intra-African trade and investment.
On mobility and visa reforms, the President said Ghana has abolished visa fees for all African passport holders as part of efforts to deepen continental integration.
“Any African traveling to Ghana does not have to pay for a visa,” he said.
He also announced the introduction of an e-visa system designed to simplify travel procedures for members of the diaspora, eliminating the need for physical visits to Ghanaian diplomatic missions.
“You just sit wherever you are and apply online, and within 48 hours the visa will be issued,” he explained.
President Mahama shared an anecdote about issuing the first visa through the new system, which went to a Serbian oil rig worker who later travelled through Accra to Takoradi and offshore installations in Ghana.
He described the development as a symbol of Ghana’s improving global connectivity and efficiency in public service delivery.
The President made the remarks during his engagements in London as part of his broader outreach to Ghanaians abroad.
