President Mahama calls for gender-inclusive reparatory justice framework
President John Dramani Mahama has called for reparatory justice frameworks to fully integrate gender considerations, insisting that the experiences of women and girls during slavery and its aftermath must be central to global efforts to address the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.
Speaking at the opening of the Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice in Accra, President Mahama said reparations efforts would remain incomplete if they continued to overlook the unique and disproportionate experiences of women.
He stressed that any attempt at achieving historical justice that fails to recognise the gendered impact of slavery would fall short of its intended objectives.
The President paid tribute to women who have championed the reparatory justice movement over the years, noting that many had made significant contributions without receiving due recognition. He described their advocacy as vital to sustaining the global campaign for justice.
Reflecting on responsibility and historical accountability, President Mahama said that although present generations cannot be held personally guilty for the atrocities of slavery, they inherit a responsibility to confront its enduring consequences.
He explained that while history does not pass down guilt, it does pass on the institutional and structural inequalities created by historical injustice, making it the responsibility of today’s leaders to address them.
President Mahama also noted the growing international momentum behind reparatory justice following the adoption of a recent United Nations resolution, adding that lasting progress would require constructive dialogue among nations, including engagement with descendants of those involved in the transatlantic slave trade.
