Reparations Are A Moral Imperative, Not Charity – President Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama declared reparations for the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism a “moral, legal and political obligation” rather than charitable gestures, during the launch of “Reparations: History, Struggle, Politics and Law” by renowned author Kwesi Pratt Junior.

Speaking during the book launch of Reparations: History, Struggle, Politics and Law, described as both “solemn and celebratory,” President Mahama, who serves as the African Union’s champion for reparations, delivered what many are calling a defining moment in the global reparations movement.

“Reparations are not charity,” President Mahama emphasized, his voice carrying the weight of centuries of injustice. “They are about truth. They are about justice. They are about healing and the reordering of the global system that has for centuries been built on the exploitation of Africa and her people.”

The President’s remarks came as the African Union officially launches its “Decade of Reparations” (2025-2035), marking an unprecedented continental commitment to seeking redress for historical wrongs.

In perhaps the most striking portion of his address, President Mahama highlighted the stark inconsistencies in how the international community has addressed historical injustices.

“The world found the resources to rebuild Europe after World War Two, to compensate Israel after the Holocaust, and to reconstruct Japan after the Hiroshima bomb,” he stated. “Yet the greatest crime against humanity, the enslavement of millions of Africans and the pillage of a continent, has never been fully addressed.”

This comparison underscored what many African leaders see as a fundamental inequity in global justice, where some historical wrongs receive comprehensive redress while others remain ignored.

President Mahama outlined a comprehensive vision for reparations that extends far beyond monetary payments. According to the President, true reparations must:

– Restore historical memory

– Affirm spiritual dignity

– Drive systemic reforms of the global order

– Inspire curriculum changes in schools

– Reform global trade and finance structures

– Reimagine international governance

“Africans did not passively endure,” he declared, emphasizing that the continent’s ancestors “fought with courage, intellect and faith, leaving a legacy of agency and resilience.”

Speaking not only as Ghana’s President but as the AU champion for reparations, Mahama positioned the evening’s event within a broader continental strategy. The African Union’s declaration of the reparations decade signals a coordinated approach to seeking justice on the global stage.

“The struggle for reparations is not merely about the past, it is about the future,” the President stated. “It’s about building a just world where Africa and her diaspora stand tall, not as victims of history, but architects of a new and equitable order.”

The launch of Kwesi Pratt Junior’s “Reparations: History, Struggle, Politics and Law” provided the backdrop for these historic remarks. President Mahama praised the work for its comprehensive examination of the reparations struggle and its role in advancing the global conversation.

The President concluded with a rallying cry for mobilization: “Let us mobilize our youth, our women, our intellectuals and diaspora communities, and let us carry forward Nkruma’s vision and our forebears’ sacrifice.”

His final words resonated through the gathering: “Reparations are not a dream deferred. They are a demand whose time has come.”

As Ghana continues to lead continental efforts on reparations, President Mahama’s address marks a significant escalation in the global conversation about historical justice. With the African Union’s decade-long commitment now officially launched, the international community faces renewed pressure to address what many consider history’s greatest unresolved injustice.

The evening’s gathering, as President Mahama noted, was both an acknowledgment of past wrongs and a celebration of Africa’s determination to secure justice for future generations.