President Mahama backs African-Caribbean joint mechanism on reparative justice
President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed Ghana’s support for stronger collaboration between Africa and the Caribbean in advancing the global reparatory justice agenda, stressing that the pursuit of justice for the transatlantic slave trade must be driven by a united transcontinental effort.
Speaking at the opening of the Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice in Accra, President Mahama said Africa and the Caribbean have made significant progress through decades of collective advocacy involving African states, CARICOM, scholars, civil society organisations, faith communities, legal experts, and the African diaspora.
“The adoption of the resolution was made possible by decades of advocacy and cooperation among African states, CARICOM, scholars, civil society organizations, faith communities, legal experts, and members of the African diaspora,” he said.
He noted that the achievements recorded so far demonstrate the power of partnership over isolation, adding that the next phase of the campaign must continue to be guided by unity and shared purpose.
President Mahama also expressed strong support for the African Union Assembly’s decision to establish an African-Caribbean Joint Mechanism on Reparative Justice, describing it as a crucial step toward advancing the cause.
“The crime we seek to address was transcontinental in its reach, its consequences remain transcontinental in its impact, and the search for justice must therefore be transcontinental in its ambition,” Mahama stated.
He said the enduring effects of the transatlantic slave trade require coordinated action between Africa and the Caribbean, emphasizing that lasting reparatory justice can only be achieved through sustained international cooperation.
