President John Dramani Mahama has advocated for a more inclusive global approach to reparatory justice, stating that acknowledging historical injustices must lead to sustained international action.
Speaking on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at the opening of the Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice in Accra, Mahama stated that the recent UN resolution on slavery and its legacy should be viewed as the start of a lengthier process rather than its end.
He said, “The adoption of the resolution was never intended to mark the end of the journey, it was intended to provide the foundation for a more meaningful process of engagement, reflection, and action.”
He emphasised that rather than restricting participation to a small number of players, the success of reparatory justice initiatives relied on expanding participation among nations and institutions.
“The pursuit of historical justice is not strengthened by narrowing the circle of participation. It is strengthened by expanding it,” he said.
In confronting the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, Mahama advised stakeholders to place a high priority on communication, transparency, and humility, pointing out that divergent political and historical viewpoints shouldn’t impede collaboration.
“It is strengthened when those who may approach these issues from different historical, political, or legal perspectives nevertheless choose dialogue over silence and engagement over distance,” he stated.
The ramifications of slavery still call for concerted worldwide participation, he said, adding that acknowledging historical wrong generates responsibility for collective response.
He stated, “We are here because recognition creates responsibility, and because the enduring consequences of this history continue to demand thoughtful, coordinated, and sustained international engagement.”
The president cited historical sites in Ghana, such as past slave routes and fortifications like castles and dungeons, as lasting tangible proof of the transatlantic slave trade and its effects on the world.
He noted that descendants of those impacted now return to Ghana as global leaders, intellectuals, and citizens, and that these places link Africa to the Americas and other regions whose identities were altered by the forced migration of enslaved Africans.
Mahama also emphasised the often-overlooked experiences of enslaved women and girls, arguing that their pain should be appropriately acknowledged in debates of reparatory justice because it was often left out of historical accounts.
“Their suffering was often concealed from the official record, leaving them victims not only of the extinction, but also of historical erasure,” he said.
The conference brings together heads of state, officials, academics and diaspora representatives to explore the next steps in advancing reparations and resolving the long-term impact of slavery.
Source: newsthemegh.com