Former President John Dramani Mahama has lauded the African Union (AU) Executive Council for extending its Theme of the Year on Reparations to a full Decade of Reparations, from 2026 to 2036, calling it a defining moment in Africa’s collective pursuit of justice and restitution.

President Mahama, the AU’s appointed Champion for Reparations, made the remarks in Accra during the opening session of the 13th High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance.

He described the AU’s Decade of Reparations as a bold and unified continental effort to address the enduring injustices of slavery, colonialism, and neo-colonial exploitation. Ghana, he noted, was honoured to lead the charge as the AU Champion for Reparations and would continue to stand at the forefront of Africa’s struggle for dignity, unity, and self-determination.

Mahama acknowledged the AU’s approval of the terms of reference for both the Commission of Experts on Reparations and the Reference Group of Legal Experts, describing them as “critical milestones.” However, he emphasised the need for urgent action to operationalise 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,” he said. “Let this not be another declaration left on paper. Let it be a living mandate for action.”

He further challenged the High-Level Dialogue to take a firm stand on the protection of Africa’s civic space and to adopt legally binding frameworks across all member states to safeguard civil liberties, including freedom of expression, the right to protest, and media freedoms.

“Democracy cannot thrive in the presence of fear or repression,” he cautioned. “The legitimacy of our governments depends on the inclusion of all our people.”

The former President also called for the integration of political and civic education into national school curricula, stressing that civic disengagement was often a product of mistrust and systemic failure, not apathy.

“We must ensure our democratic institutions speak a language our citizens understand and trust. Democracy must be relational, not just institutional,” he stated.

Referencing Ghana’s Pan-African legacy, Mahama underscored the country’s historical and ongoing commitment to reparative justice and democratic governance, invoking the ideals of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

The Dialogue, he said, must be remembered as a moment of continental reawakening and a rallying point for action-driven leadership.

“Let us not merely reflect, but act. Let us speak of Africa’s potential and realise it in our lifetime,” he concluded.