The timely call by Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama for reparations to Africa to compensate for colonisation and its associated injustices has provoked diverse reactions, bringing to the fore the urgent need for a unified front to drive that agenda.
The speech made by President Mahama at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa on February 20, 2025, highlighted the enormous damage inflicted on Africa during the colonial period and also revived conversation on a decision had remained stagnant, buried in bureaucratic drawers for the past two years, until his re-election in December.
He cited historical estimates suggesting that the total economic loss to the continent due to the outflow of human and material resources amounted to trillions of dollars.
In 2023, a conference on reparations was held in Ghana’s capital, where it was decided that reparations should not only include financial compensation but also measures for restitution, rehabilitation, and guarantees against the recurrence of similar abuses in the future.
Pan-African movement
It is instructive to note that almost all summit participants expressed similar positions on reparations, indicating the urgent need to establish a unified Pan-African movement that can effectively address economic development issues, including the reparations project, as well as political representation. Such representation is essential for negotiations with the countries obligated to compensate Africa for the losses suffered during colonialism and slavery. Furthermore, a Pan-African movement would focus on preserving the cultural identity of the vast African family of nations.
This initiative has been enthusiastically received by other heads of state outside the African Union (AU). The project has also received strong support from Alliance of Sahel States (ASS) members —Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. In these countries, petitions were even launched to support the reparations project and the revival of the Pan-African movement.
To those who question the need for yet another organization, the answer is that despite the numerous summits and associations already in place, no existing movement is actively working to build a Pan-African progressive policy. Yet, only through collective efforts can a broad range of challenges —from economic issues to social policies — be effectively addressed.
Though many countries are clamouring for the leadership and organization of the Pan-African progressive movement, Ghana historically was the first country on the continent to launch the struggle for independence. That makes Ghana the best qualified base for the rebirth of the Pan-African movement to vigorously promote the interest of the African continent.
Governance experts’ views
Meanwhile, a Ghanaian governance expert has observed that while the potential of reparations to resolve Africa’s economic challenges is a nuanced issue that warrants careful examination, it could serve as a meaningful step towards rectifying historical wrongs afflicted on the continent.
A Senior Political Science Lecturer and Head of the Department of Political Science at the University for Development Studies, Dr Gbensuglo Alidu Bukari, said reparations were not merely about financial compensation, but also about recognising and acknowledging the systemic exploitation and dehumanisation that characterised colonisation and the transatlantic slave trade.
He consequently urged African governments to fashion out comprehensive long-term development strategies that address political governance, economic inequalities, and the imperative of sustainable development.
Two other academics in the governance space expressed similar sentiments in separate interviews, cautioning African governments not to put all hopes on reparations, but instead find solutions to the various issues that undermine development on the continent.
Assuaging emotional wounds
The two – Dr Samuel Kofi Darkwa of the Institute for Economic Affairs and Gilbert Ahinful Aidoo of the University of Education, Winneba – stressed that reparations to Africa are, however, important to assuage the emotional wounds of Africa.
The interviews were triggered by President John Dramani Mahama’s demand for adequate compensation in terms of reparations to Africa for the trauma and injustice inflicted by colonisation, the slave trade and related actions on the continent.
“President Mahama’s call for reparations to Africa as compensation for colonisation and its associated injustices marks a significant and timely contribution to a longstanding global debate within the political and economic governance discourse,” Dr Bukari said.
“This demand is deeply rooted in the historical exploitation, enslavement, and colonisation of Africa, which have left enduring scars on the continent’s economic, social, and political fabric,” he added.
The academic added that reparations could be a form of restorative justice aimed at addressing the imbalances created by centuries of exploitation.
“By addressing the extraction of Africa’s wealth and resources which significantly contributed to the continent’s underdevelopment, reparations could, if properly structured, provide critical resources for infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other essential sectors,” he added.
Dr Bukari, however, stressed that reparations alone were unlikely to fully resolve Africa’s complex economic and governance issues.
“The continent’s challenges are multifaceted, encompassing governance deficiencies, corruption, inequitable global trade systems, and internal structural weaknesses. Without addressing these root causes, reparations may not lead to any meaningful development.
“While they could seemingly play a pivotal role in compensating for historical injustices, as advocated by Ghana’s President Mahama, they are not a cure-all for Africa’s economic and governance struggles,” he said.
Dr Darkwa, on the other hand, said the challenges facing African nations were not solely financial, and that unfair global trade practices, reinforced by institutions such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO), continued to undermine African economies.
He said acknowledging the wrongs of colonization, exploitation, slavery and other injustices was crucial, as reparations can provide much-needed funding for essential sectors such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure, fostering long-term development.
“While countries like Germany and the UK have made attempts at compensating for past injustices, the conversation surrounding reparations for Africa must extend beyond simple financial compensation. It must address the deeper, systemic inequities that continue to hold back the continent’s progress,” Dr Darkwa said.
“The structure of international governance, particularly the composition of the United Nations Security Council which has no permanent seat for any of the 55 African countries, often works against Africa’s development rather than supporting it. These external factors perpetuate a cycle of underdevelopment, which requires a comprehensive approach to tackle the root causes,” he observed.
Internally, he said, African nations must confront challenges such as endemic corruption, which diverts billions of dollars from crucial development efforts, and the urgent need for greater industrialization, insisting that regional integration and effective trade policies were essential to building resilience and fostering collaboration across the continent.
“Furthermore, responsibly harnessing Africa’s vast natural and human resources will be key to achieving sustainable development,” he stressed.
“While reparations are an important step towards justice for Africans and people of African descent, they must be part of a broader strategy that addresses both global systemic injustices and internal challenges,” he added.
While agreeing that the trans-Atlantic slave trade, for instance, had had a lasting impact on Africa, Mr Arhinful Aidoo said the continent’s economic challenges were multifaceted and required more than financial compensation.
“Structural issues such as corruption, weak institutions, and reliance on raw material exports must also be addressed. Diversifying economies, investing in human capital, and fostering regional integration are crucial for sustainable development. “Reparations could provide a financial boost, but they must be complemented by systemic reforms and good governance across the continent,” he said.
“Additionally, the global economic system, which often disadvantages African nations through unfair trade and other practices, as well as the debt burdens, need serious structural reform.
“Reparations should be part of a broader strategy that includes fair trade agreements, debt reliefs, and increased investment in African industries,” he added.
Mr Arhinful Aidoo said African leaders must also strive to reduce their own overdependence on the “goodwill” of external donors, adding that African leaders should work toward improving upon the human resource quality, as well as equipping themselves with the necessary modern technologies to enable them to fully exploit and better manage their own resources in order to end present day neocolonialism, which he described as the worst form of colonialization.
“In fact, there should be deliberate efforts toward improving African agency on the global stage so as to better position the continent to fully benefit from its resources and other international arrangements for the betterment of the masses of the African peoples.
Accra proclamation on reparations
An Accra Reparations Conference was held in Ghana’s capital from 14 to 17 November, 2023, under the theme, “Building a United Front to Advance the Cause of Justice and Reparations to Africans”. It attracted delegates from all the regions of the Continent of Africa and the African Diaspora, including the Caribbean, Latin America, USA, Europe and the U.K.
It will be further recalled that in August 2022, the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the African Union, in collaboration with global civil society, held the Accra Summit on Reparations and Healing to build on ongoing conversations in and outside of the African Continent and explore ways to create a platform for adoption of a single transcontinental plan for reparations.
From the foregoing, it is evident that the formation of a pan-African movement will play a key role in the realisation of the reparations dream as soon as practicable.
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