President John Dramani Mahama has stated that the pursuit of reparatory justice for descendants of enslaved Africans demands collective resolve and sustained action, rather than passive expectation.
Speaking at the 39th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, he drew parallels between the reparations movement and Africa’s struggle for independence, stressing that meaningful justice must be actively pursued.
“Reparatory justice will not be handed over to us like political independence,” he said. “It must be asserted, it must be pursued, and secured through determination and unity.”
He identified the proposed “Decade of Reparations” as a central element of this approach, describing it as a shift from symbolic observances to a sustained global commitment.
“The decision to adopt a decade of reparations marks a strategic shift from a time-bound observance to a sustained global commitment,” he noted, urging member states to prepare for a coordinated, long-term campaign.
President Mahama also announced that Ghana is leading efforts at the United Nations to advance the reparations agenda. He told the Assembly that Ghana intends to table a draft resolution at the UN General Assembly on 25 March, seeking formal recognition of the transatlantic slave trade and the enslavement of Africans as crimes against humanity.
“The resolution has been submitted to this Assembly for endorsement in order that Africa speaks with one voice on that global platform,” he explained. “And I’m pleased to announce that several CARICOM countries and other allies have endorsed this resolution.”
He concluded with a call for unanimous support from African leaders: “I urge this Assembly to pass the resolution for tabling at the UN General Assembly on March 25th.”
