President John Dramani Mahama has urged member states and leaders of the African Union (AU) to significantly empower the institutions tasked with leading the campaign for reparative justice. He emphasized the need for tangible support beyond mere declarations, calling for robust resources and visibility for these crucial bodies.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 13th AU High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Governance and Human Rights in Accra on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, President Mahama commended the AU Executive Council’s approval of terms of reference for the AU Commission of Experts on Reparations and the African Union Reference Group of Legal Experts on Reparations.
“We must now move swiftly to personalize these instruments,” President Mahama stated. “We must empower these bodies with the resources, visibility, and mandate to lead us on this noble journey of truth, justice, and restitution. Let this not be another declaration left on paper; let it be a living mandate for action.”
Protecting Civic Space and Fostering True Democracy
Beyond reparative justice, President Mahama called for a decisive stand on legally binding frameworks across all AU member states to protect the continent’s civic space. He underscored the importance of the rights to organize, protest, and participate, and advocated for the safeguarding of press freedom and the voices of youth, women, and marginalized groups.
He stressed that African leaders must practice a form of democracy that is not only institutional but also deeply rooted in the lived experiences and aspirations of their citizens. “Democracy cannot thrive in the presence of fear or repression. The legitimacy of governments depends on the inclusion of all,” he affirmed.
To further strengthen state-building, President Mahama advocated for political education as a key pillar. Recognizing that widespread civic disengagement often stems from exclusion, mistrust, and systemic failure, he urged the integration of political and civic education into school curricula. He also called for encouraging public engagement through national dialogues and community platforms, ensuring that democratic institutions are comprehensible and trustworthy to citizens.
President Mahama concluded by encouraging African leaders to boldly pursue justice not only for past wrongs but also for present and future generations, emphasizing that the quest for justice must inform all policies and institutions built across the continent.
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Context and Event Highlights
The High-Level Dialogue (HLD) is a flagship initiative of the AU, convened under the auspices of the African Governance Architecture and African Peace and Security Architecture (AGA–APSA) Platform. This annual event provides an inclusive forum for reflection and policy dialogue on democratic governance, human rights, peace, and security.
This year’s two-day event, themed “Justice, Reparations and State Building,” aimed to explore structural and normative enablers for deepening democratic governance across Africa.
The dialogue saw the attendance of numerous dignitaries, including former Heads of State, former Prime Ministers and Vice Presidents, AU leaders, ministers, African heads of mission, and international delegations. Notable personalities present included Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, Commissioner of the AU Commission on Political Affairs, Peace and Security; former Ethiopian President, Sahle-Work Zewde; former President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi; and Ghana’s Acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonney.
Calls for Collaboration and Transformative Justice
In his welcome address, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, underscored that sustainable development and peace must be anchored in fairness and the redress of historical injustice. He described the dialogue as a timely opportunity to explore pathways for justice, drawing inspiration from Africa’s past leaders, the energy of its youth, and the resilience of its diaspora. Ghana, he affirmed, remains steadfast in its advocacy for reparative justice and inclusive state-building rooted in the legacies of colonialism, slavery, apartheid, and exploitation.
Delivering a speech on behalf of AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Commissioner Bankole Adeoye emphasized that Africa must focus on transformative change driven by peace and justice. He asserted that reparations are not isolated from justice and collective rights but are fundamental to reconciliation, democratic renewal, economic advancement, and sustainable peace. Despite daunting challenges, Commissioner Adeoye called on African leaders and the AU to reaffirm their commitment to the Union’s shared values and norms.
Africa Day: Experts Renew Calls for Reparations for Colonial Injustices
