By Iddi Yire
Accra, July 29, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama Tuesday commended the African Union (AU) Executive Council for extending the theme of the Year on Reparations to a Decade on Reparations.
From 2026 to 2036 is the AU’s Decade of Reparations with Ghana expected to lead as the Champion.
The AU’s Decade of Reparations marks a unified continental effort to seek justice, redress, and reparations for the historical atrocities of slavery, colonialism, and neo-colonial exploitation.
President Mahama, who is the African Union Champion for Reparations gave the commendation in his address in Accra at the opening of the AU 13th High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance: Trends, Challenges, and Prospect.
He said the enduring legacies of slavery, colonial exploitation, systemic racism, and economic subjugation were still visible today in the arbitrary borders that divide the African people, the financial hardships imposed by unjust global systems, and in the fragile governance systems, institutions that they were still struggling to strengthen.
He said the Accra gathering was not only to examine the painful past, but also to shape a difference and a better future for the African continent, where its agency, sovereignty, and dignity were restored and respected, a future where state building was informed by a context shaped by their people and owned by their African communities, adding that Ghana was honoured to contribute to this continental vision.
He said from the bold Pan-African ideals of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President, to their current engagement on reparative justice and democratic consolidation, Ghana had always stood at the forefront of the struggle for African dignity, unity, and self-determination.
“We believe that unity is our historical imperative and our most effective instrument for achieving justice and prosperity,” he said.
He noted that the Ghanaian people remain committed to building a continent where no one was left behind, and every voice was heard and valued.
President Mahama also commended the AU Executive Council for approving the terms of reference for the African Union Commission of Experts on Reparations and the African Union Reference Group of Legal Experts on Reparations.
“These are critical milestones. However, we must now move swiftly to personalize these instruments. We must empower these bodies with the resources, visibility, and mandate to lead us on this noble journey of truth, justice, and restitution,” President Mahama stated.
“Let this not be another declaration left on paper. Let it be a living mandate for action.”
He urged the Dialogue to take a firm stand on the need for legally binding frameworks across all member states to safeguard Africa’s civic space.
“We must protect the right to organize, to protest, and participate. We must preserve the freedom of the press, the voices of the youth and our women, and marginalized groups must be heard and protected,” he said.
“Democracy cannot thrive in the presence of fear or repression. The legitimacy of our governments depends on the inclusion of all our people. Governments must exist for all our people and not just a few.”
President Mahama noted that equally important was the need to prioritize political education as a pillar of state building.
He said widespread civic disengagement was not simply a matter of apathy; stating that it was often the result of exclusion, mistrust, and systemic failure.
“And therefore, we must integrate political and civic education into our school curriculum. We must encourage public engagement through national dialogues and community platforms.”
He said African leaders must ensure that the continent’s democratic institutions spoke a language their citizens understood and trust.
“Democracy must be more institutional. It must not be just institutional, it must be relational. It must be rooted in the daily life experiences and expectations of our people.”
President Mahama said the Dialogue must be remembered as a meeting of minds and a moment of continental reawakening.
“We must boldly pursue justice for our past, present and future generations. Justice must inform the institutions we create, the policies we enact, and the leadership that we embody. This is not a romantic notion,” he said.
“And so let us make this dialogue count. Let us not merely reflect, but let us act, let us speak of Africa’s potential and realize it in our lifetime,” the President added.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah