Author: Amanda Cartey

President John Dramani Mahama has thrown his full weight behind the African Union’s agenda this year to seek justice for Africans and people of African descent who have been directly and indirectly affected by colonialism and slavery.

Delivering his African Day 2025 message based on the Union’s theme this year, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations,” the president emphasized the need for a united front in addressing the lingering effects of slavery, colonialism, and neo-colonialism, which he described as historical injustices that have cast a shadow on the lives and progress of Africans and Africans in the diaspora.

“As the AU Champion for this critical cause, I am deeply committed to working with you all to achieve this vital objective. Reparations are not merely about financial compensation. They are about acknowledging the profound and enduring damage inflicted upon our people,” he said.

The president further outlined an approach to justice that involves official apologies from complicit nations and institutions, cancellation of unjust debt burdens, and return of stolen cultural artifacts, encouraging increased investment in African education and development as part of the reparation process.

“We seek justice—justice that encompasses a comprehensive range of measures. Addressing the crippling debt burden that continues to stifle economic growth in many African nations—a direct consequence of exploitation and unfair trade practices—is essential,” he said.

President Mahama urged fellow African leaders, civil society organizations, youth groups, and members of the diaspora to join hands in pushing for reparations, stressing the importance of advocacy, dialogue, and solidarity.

“Let us work together to build a future where justice prevails, where the wounds of the past are healed, and where the potential of every African and person of African descent is fully realized,” he said.

He called on African leaders, civil society, and the diaspora to forge a united front. “Let Africa Day 2025 be a turning point. Let the pursuit of reparations be a testament to our resilience and belief in a brighter future,” he remarked.

In an address on behalf of the African Union Commission (AUC), Chairperson H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf highlighted Africa’s resolve to secure justice for past wrongs while building a continent anchored in prosperity and unity.

“Justice and reparations remain long overdue,” he said, adding that “the continent continues to sacrifice and strive towards freedom from conflict, underdevelopment, and war.”

H.E. Youssouf underscored Africa’s strategic assets—including a youthful and growing population, vast natural resources, and renewable energy potential—as key drivers of a transformative future. With Africa’s population expected to surpass 2.5 billion by 2050, he described the continent not just as the future but as “the engine of global transformation.”

H.E. Ambassador Hadera Abera, Ethiopia’s State Minister of Foreign Affairs, remarked that reparatory justice goes beyond redressing past wrongs. “It is about affirming the dignity of our people and shaping a future rooted in fairness and accountability,” she said.

Ambassador Abera called for deeper bonds between Africa and its diaspora to push for global recognition and restitution. She also pointed to the role of youth and digital innovation as critical to Africa’s future and urged investments in emerging sectors like artificial intelligence and big data.

She concluded by pledging Ethiopia’s unwavering support for Agenda 2063, the African Union’s strategic vision for a prosperous, peaceful, and self-reliant continent.

Meanwhile, UNESCO has reaffirmed its solidarity with the African Union’s agenda. Dr. Rita Bissoonauth, the Director and UNESCO representative, announced the launch of a high-level roundtable later this year themed “Reparations, Memory and Sovereignty: African Liberation Movements and the Relevance of Pan-Africanism Today.” She described the initiative as a platform for policy exchange and action, not mere symbolism.

Righting the wrongs with African states

In 2024, the United Kingdom returned 32 gold and silver treasures stolen from the Asante Kingdom more than 150 years ago on a six-year loan. 

The artefacts, comprising 15 items from the British Museum and 17 from the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), were looted from the court of the Asante king during the turbulent 19th-century clashes between the British and the Asante people.

The relics, including gold and silver regalia associated with the Asante Royal Court, have been showcased at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti region, as part of the yearlong celebration honouring Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s silver jubilee.

Three years ago, Benin received two dozen treasures and artworks stolen in 1892 by French colonial forces during the sacking of the royal Palace of Abomey.

Currently, a Dutch museum is taking measures to send more than a hundred precious artefacts back to Nigeria. The Wereldmuseum in Leiden is preparing a collection of Benin Bronzes looted during a violent British raid in 1897.