Ghana’s Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has made a strong appeal for global action on reparations for Africa and its diaspora, emphasizing the need for justice, dignity, and long-term equity in addressing the legacy of slavery and colonialism.
Delivering a statement on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama—who currently serves as the African Union’s Champion for Reparations—Prof. Opoku-Agyemang addressed the 2nd Africa–CARICOM Summit, held under the theme: “Transcontinental Partnership in Pursuit of Reparatory Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”
The summit brought together leaders from Africa and the Caribbean to reinforce their shared commitment to reparatory justice for people of African descent worldwide.
The Vice President outlined several priorities in Ghana’s approach to the reparations movement, including:
- Support for the AU Commission of Experts on Reparations
- Backing the Global Reparations Fund, jointly established with CARICOM to coordinate claims and resource mobilization
- Advocating for non-monetary reparations, such as historical truth-telling, land restoration, cultural revitalization, policy reforms, and community empowerment
“Reparations are not just about financial compensation. They are about restoring dignity, correcting injustice, and building stronger, fairer societies,” Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said.
She called on progressive nations to support the agenda through diplomacy, legal action, funding mechanisms, and a moral commitment to righting historical wrongs.
The Vice President also highlighted the importance of the Decade of Reparations, calling it a “defining opportunity” for Africa and its diaspora to secure lasting progress.
As part of efforts to sustain momentum, she announced that Ghana and Togo will co-host a major reparations-focused event in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly later this month.
“Reparations are not only about the past; they are about shaping a just, humane, and equitable future,” she said, invoking the words of Ghana’s founding President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah: “Forward ever, backward never.”
