Few debates in global justice today evoke as much passion and urgency as the call for reparations for Africa.
For centuries, the continent bore the brunt of slavery, colonialism, and the systematic exploitation of its natural resources — legacies that remain evident in persistent underdevelopment, unequal global relations, and the enduring scars of dispossession.
The demand for reparations is not a cry of victimhood but a call for the restoration of justice and a fairer foundation for development.
Launching the African Union’s theme for 2025 at the recently concluded 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly in Addis Ababa, President John Mahama stated that pursuing justice required stronger legal and institutional mechanisms at the national, regional and international levels.
Such frameworks, he noted, were essential to ensure that advocacy for justice — addressing the historical trauma inflicted on Africa and its diaspora — moved beyond mere conversation and became a tangible reality.
The African Union has dedicated this year to efforts in addressing historical injustices and their lingering consequences, which have impacted generations of Africans and people of African descent, and it’s on the theme: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”
President Mahama, who is also the AU Champion for Reparations, noted that the Accra Reparations Conference, held in November 2023, reaffirmed the need for a comprehensive reparatory justice system that would result in the establishment of stronger advocacy and policy frameworks.
Historical burden
The transatlantic slave trade forcibly removed about twelve million Africans from their homeland, robbing the continent of generations of human capital.
Then came colonialism, built on the extraction of Africa’s resources to fuel industrialisation and development in Europe.
Railway networks, mines, and plantations were built not to advance African prosperity but to serve European enrichment.
Centuries of such exploitation created structural inequalities that continue to shape Africa’s position in the global economy.
Contemporary relevance
Africa’s struggle with poverty and underdevelopment today cannot be separated from this history. Many nations are trapped in cycles of dependency, negotiating unfair trade terms, and grappling with debts to former colonial masters.
Many institutions in Europe still hold priceless African artefacts, and multinational corporations continue to benefit disproportionately from Africa’s natural resources.
Reparations, therefore, are not only about the past, but they are also about dealing with structural imbalances that persist in the present.
In his recent speech at the 80th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, President Mahama stated: “The slave trade must be recognised as the greatest crime against humanity.
More than twelve and a half million Africans were forcibly taken against their will and transported to create wealth for the powerful Western nations.”
He boldly stated that we must demand reparation for the enslavement of our people and the colonisation of our land.
In my opinion, reparations need not be limited to financial compensation.
This can include debt cancellation, access to technology, restitution of artefacts taken away forcefully in the past, investment in education and health, and fairer trade agreements.
These measures will not only correct historical wrongs but also empower Africa to achieve sustainable development.
Across the world, the reparations movement is gaining momentum. CARICOM, the regional bloc of Caribbean nations, has taken bold steps to demand reparations from former colonial powers.
In the United States and Europe, academic and policy circles are increasingly recognising the moral and economic case for reparations.
Ghana, as the gateway of the African diaspora and the cradle of Pan-Africanism, is uniquely placed to champion this fight on the continent.
Call to action
I believe the time has come for Africa to speak with one voice on reparations.
This is not about handouts; it is about redress and justice.
Reparations represent an opportunity to heal historical wounds, reclaim dignity and secure a future where Africa can stand on equal footing in the global comity of nations.
As we reflect on our history and envision the Africa we want, the reparations debate must remain at the centre of our conversations.
Because without justice, true development will remain incomplete.
