We support President on reparations quest

The curtains have been drawn on the 39th African Union (AU) Summit, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, marking a significant milestone in the continent's pursuit of peace, prosperity and unity.

On the theme "Assuring the sustainable availability of safe water and sanitation systems to achieve the goals of Agenda 2063," leaders from across Africa committed to addressing pressing challenges facing the continent.

The summit emphasised a need to find African solutions to African problems, particularly in addressing security concerns such as terrorism, violent extremism, and the crises ongoing in Sudan, the Sahel and the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The leaders stressed the importance of regional cooperation and collective action to address the root cause of conflicts.

The AU Commission Chair, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, urged a proactive approach to conflict prevention and resolution.

The 39th AU Summit set the stage for a new era of African cooperation and solidarity.

A landmark resolution recognised the transatlantic slave trade and racialised chattel enslavement as crimes against humanity.

President John Dramani Mahama, who spearheaded the resolution, hailed it as a "unified continental mandate" to seek global recognition and reparations. 

The resolution seeks to address colonialism and slavery's lasting impacts, including racism, economic disparities and cultural exploitation.

African leaders called for financial restitution, environmental restoration, and the return of stolen cultural heritage.

President Mahama emphasised that "reparatory justice will not be handed over to Africans like political independence"; it must be asserted, pursued, and secured through determination and unity.

This move is seen as a crucial step that would give Ghana the AU’s backing as it tables the resolution at the UN General Assembly on March 25, 2026.

It seeks to address the lasting impacts of colonialism and slavery, including racism, economic disparities and cultural exploitation. 

The Daily Graphic aligns with the call for reparations and reparatory justice, recognising the historical injustices inflicted upon Africa and its people.

It cannot be that slave owners were duly compensated for such an atrocity, while the perpetrators deliberately want to distort history and ignore the calls of victims for reparative justice.

The continent's history, demarcation and formation are evidence of colonisation and the slave trade.

The forts, castles, and scattered Africans across the Americas, Caribbean, Asia and Europe are ample proof of these atrocities.

The Daily Graphic calls for a strong continental stance, reflected in every discussion on the world stage and dealing with the benefactors of this gruesome history.

The West, which colonised Africa, is unrepentant.

There is a certain sense of entitlement among those countries.

Sometimes, it feels as though Africa is their birthright.

A classic example is seen in the recent words of the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, delivered at the Munich Security Conference, which have reverberated across the globe, where he lamented the “terminal decline” of Western empires, attributing it to “godless communist revolutions and anti-colonial uprisings” that dismantled colonial rule after World War II.

He spoke of revitalising “the greatest civilisation in human history,” urging Europe to shed “guilt and shame” over its colonial past and join America in reclaiming a dominant “place in the world.”  

Neocolonialism persists through economic dependencies, debt traps, and geopolitical manoeuvring. We must heed this moment to unite, look inward, and pursue our continent’s agenda with unashamed selfishness.

A deliberate foreign policy is needed, designed by all 54 AU members, to prioritise Africa's interests and reject intimidation by European and American powers that benefited from the slave trade.

For the first time in history, Africa must unite for this common purpose, fulfilling the dreams of heroes such as Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

The 39th AU Summit was a historic moment, demonstrating Africa's resolve to address pressing challenges and working towards a brighter future.

The continent's leaders must translate commitments into concrete actions, ensuring peace, prosperity, and unity for all Africans.