President John Dramani Mahama has called for unified efforts to secure reparative justice for Africans and people of African descent.

Speaking at the launch of the African Union's 2025 theme during the 38th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Saturday, he stressed the need for robust legal and institutional frameworks at national, regional, and international levels to advance this cause.

“We must continue to advocate for stronger legal and institutional mechanisms… to ensure that justice for the historical trauma inflicted on global Africa is not just a conversation, but a reality," he said.

President Mahama emphasised that the Accra Reparations Conference held in November 2023 highlighted the importance of comprehensive reparatory justice, leading to the enhancement of advocacy and policy strategies.

He stressed that achieving meaningful justice requires collaboration among European nations, regional economic bodies, the global African diaspora, civil society groups, academic institutions, the private sector, and international stakeholders.

President Mahama noted the enduring consequences of the transatlantic slave trade, colonial rule, apartheid, genocide, and neo-colonial exploitation, stating that these historical injustices have fueled economic inequality, social divisions, systemic discrimination, and racial bias.

Describing the transatlantic slave trade as one of history’s gravest crimes against humanity, he noted that it spanned nearly four centuries and led to the forced displacement of over 12.5 million Africans.

He says the remnants of these oppressive systems continue to shape present-day societies, leaving lasting and profound impacts. Reiterating Ghana’s commitment to reparatory justice, he called for collective action to ensure a fair, just, and equitable future for Africans and people of African descent.

He said finding solutions to the challenges requires more than just acknowledging them, “It demands action.

"We must continue to advocate for stronger legal and institutional mechanisms at the national, regional, and international levels to ensure that justice for the historical trauma inflicted on global Africa is not just a conversation, but a reality," President Mahama said.

The African Union has designated 2025 as a year to confront historical injustices and their lasting effects on Africans and people of African descent under the theme: "Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations."

This initiative aligns with the AU’s Agenda 2063 vision for a united, peaceful, and prosperous continent. It aims to drive meaningful action by mobilizing political will, strengthening partnerships, engaging stakeholders, raising awareness, encouraging dialogue, and breaking the silence on racism and colonial legacies.