President Mahama leads African Union Call for Reparations and Restorative Justice

President John Dramani Mahama has called for African countries to make a renewed call for reparations for the past injustices meted out to the continent.

Speaking during the 7th African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Equatorial Guinea, President Mahama said the development of Africa cannot be complete without acknowledging the harms of the past.

“We cannot speak of development without identity or speak of unity without acknowledging the erasure that has fractured our heritage. The great Pan-Africanist, Marcus Garvey, once said, and I quote, a people without the knowledge of their past history, their origin, and culture is like a tree without roots. Restitution to the African, therefore, is restoration of our full dignity,” he said.

The President’s speech hinged on rallying support for the AU’s 2025 theme, which is centred on justice for Africans and the African diaspora.

According to Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the African Union passed a resolution extending the theme of the year on Reparations by a decade for the period 2026 to 2036 with Ghana expected to lead as Champion. 

Mahama’s speech continued that speaking of reparations has importance beyond the obvious financial implications.

“It is to speak of history on African terms of healing deep civilizational wounds and of restoring to African people our rightful agency in shaping our past, our present, and our future.” he said.

Analysis of the AU call for reparations

The African Union’s sustained push for reparations is a worthy cause that as President Mahama noted, has implications beyond simply seeking financial aid.

For it to be effective, African leaders need to institute public educations campaigns to get the people’s support behind the movement.

Many Africans who have little appreciation for the continent’s history tend to be hostile to the idea, but getting their support will be crucial to creating a groundswell of support to push the agenda on social media and beyond.