Ghana's Mahama rallies global support for reparations, unveils three panels

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has launched a significant initiative to push for global reparatory justice, establishing three high-level international committees. The announcement came at the Next Steps Consultative Conference in Accra, a gathering aimed at consolidating international efforts following the adoption of a UN resolution on the consequences of African enslavement.

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This meeting was not only about reflecting on the past but also about determining how humanity should respond to the enduring legacy of slavery.

The newly formed committees are designed to provide strategic direction, support the return of cultural artifacts, and explore legal avenues for reparations. The Global Advisory Panel will involve current and former heads of state, while the Expert Panel will focus on cultural restitution, and the Global Legal Panel will bring together jurists to develop approaches grounded in international law.

Mahama described the conference as a historic moment for confronting historical injustices and charting a path toward healing and reconciliation. He emphasized that Ghana's pursuit of reparatory justice is not about reopening old wounds but about achieving healing through truth and understanding. The initiative seeks to move the global community from acknowledging the past to implementing concrete actions.

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Ghana’s pursuit of reparatory justice was not about reopening old wounds but about healing through truth, justice and understanding.

The conference drew prominent figures, including the presidents of Namibia, Senegal, and Liberia, the Prime Minister of Barbados, Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, and descendants of Pan-Africanist Marcus Garvey. Their participation underscores the broad international support for advancing the reparations agenda.

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The goal was not division, but reconciliation grounded in truth.