President John Dramani Mahama has called on nations involved in the trans-Atlantic slave trade to pay reparations to Africa, saying the continent’s dignity and future development depend on a full reckoning with its past.
Speaking on Monday, 14 July, at the African Union’s seventh Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Mr Mahama urged the international community to support Africa’s push for reparative justice.
“Africa’s demand for reparative justice is no longer a mere murmur. It is a unified demand grounded in historical truth, moral clarity, and our unwavering commitment to dignity,” he said.
Mr Mahama addressed the summit in his capacity as the African Union’s Champion for Reparatory Justice for Africans and People of African Descent.
He stressed the connection between reparations and African identity, arguing that meaningful development cannot take place without reclaiming the continent’s history and heritage.
“We cannot speak of development without identity or speak of unity without acknowledging the era that has fractured our heritage,” he told delegates.
Mr Mahama called for stronger global partnerships and urged the international community to work with the AU in building a fairer and more just global order.
