President John Dramani Mahama has added his voice to growing global calls for reparations to be paid to African nations by their former colonial rulers, stressing that the time has come for justice, recognition, and healing.
Speaking during a presidential address to mark African Union Day on Sunday, Mahama did not hold back in confronting the lasting consequences of slavery, colonialism, and neo-colonialism on the African continent and its diaspora.
“For too long the legacy of slavery, colonialism and neo-colonialism has cast a long shadow on the lives and progress of Africans and people of African descent,” he said.
“These historical injustices have left deep scars. Reparations are not merely about financial compensation. They are about acknowledging the profound and enduring damage inflicted upon our people.”
Mahama’s statement was more than a reflection on history — it was a passionate call to action. He urged African leaders, institutions, and global partners to work together towards a fair and dignified future.
“Let us work together to build a future where justice prevails, where the wounds of the past are healed and where the potential of every African and person of African descent is fully realized,” he said.
With Africa still grappling with the legacy of systemic inequality born out of these injustices, Mahama’s voice joins a rising chorus of leaders insisting that reckoning with the past is key to unlocking the continent’s full potential.
