President Mahama rallies African leaders to empower reparations bodies
At the 13th AU High-Level Delegation Dialogue in Accra (July 29, 2025), President John Dramani Mahama urged African leaders to support the newly mandated reparations bodies—the AU Commission of Experts on Reparations and the AU Reference Group of Legal Experts on Reparations. He called for these instruments to be equipped with clear mandates, resources, and visibility so they move beyond declarations to meaningful action.
Accra, July 29, 2025 — Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has appealed to African leaders and institutions to empower the reparations bodies recently endorsed by the AU Executive Council. These include the AU Commission of Experts on Reparations and its Reference Group of Legal Experts
Mahama hailed the council’s approval of their terms of reference as a “commendable milestone”, but emphasized that this must be matched with adequate resources and authority:
“We must now move swiftly to personalise 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. Let this not be another declaration left on paper; let it be a living mandate for action.”
Speaking at the launch of the AU-themed dialogue “Justice, Rights, Reparations and State Building,” held in Accra, Mahama underscored that the reparations agenda must transcend symbolic gestures. He urged leaders to help transform institutions into powerful vehicles of reparative justice that contribute to African agency, sovereignty, and dignity
???? Broader Context & Stakes
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Since February 2025, Africa has rallied around reparative justice, aligning with CARICOM to jointly demand justice for the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism
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The Global Reparation Fund, established in 2023 under the Accra Proclamation, is designed to channel reparative claims for slavery and colonial injustices
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With the AU theme extended into a Decade of Reparations (2026–2036), Mahama’s remarks underscore the urgency of translating frameworks into action—not postponing deliverables to future summits
✅ Key Takeaways
| Area | Mahama’s Key Message |
|---|---|
| Institutional Legitimacy | AU reparations bodies now backed by approved terms of reference |
| Call to Action | Equip these bodies with funding, visibility, and legal mandate |
| Beyond Symbolism | Move from declarations to living mandates and measurable actions |
| Continental Unity | Calls for African states to act together in truth, justice, and restitution |
| Legacy of Ghana | Ghana continues to lead reparative justice in Africa’s diplomatic agenda |
???? Significance & Impact
President Mahama’s assertion serves as a pivotal moment in Africa’s reparative justice movement. By demanding that institutional mechanisms be operational—and not merely ceremonial—he encourages a holistic approach that connects historical reckoning with contemporary governance, legal frameworks, and social accountability.
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