The urgent necessity for a united front to advance that goal has been highlighted by the varied responses to Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama’s timely demand for reparations to Africa to make up for colonization and the atrocities that went along with it.
In addition to highlighting the massive harm done to Africa during the colonial era, President Mahama’s speech at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa on February 20, 2025, sparked a discussion on a decision that had lain dormant in bureaucratic drawers for the previous two years, until his reelection in December.
According to historical estimations, the continent suffered a total economic loss of trillions of dollars as a result of the departure of material and people resources.
At a reparations conference in the capital of Ghana in 2023, it was determined that in addition to monetary compensation, reparations should also include measures for rehabilitation, restitution, and assurances that such atrocities won’t happen again.
The Pan-African movement
It is instructive to observe that nearly all summit participants voiced similar views on reparations, highlighting the pressing need to create a cohesive Pan-African movement capable of successfully addressing issues related to political representation and economic development, including the reparations project. Negotiations with the nations required to reimburse Africa for the damages incurred by colonialism and slavery require this kind of representation. The preservation of the cultural identity of the large African family of nations would also be the main goal of a pan-African movement.
Other heads of state outside the African Union (AU) have embraced this idea with enthusiasm. Members of the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS), including Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali, have also shown a significant commitment to the initiative. Even petitions were started in these nations to support the Pan-African movement’s resurgence and the reparations initiative.
The response to those who wonder why another organization is necessary is that, in spite of the many summits and associations that have previously been established, no movement is actively attempting to develop a progressive pan-African strategy. However, a wide range of problems, from social policies to economic concerns, can only be successfully resolved by teamwork.
Ghana was historically the first nation on the continent to begin the fight for independence, despite the fact that many other nations are demanding to be the leader and organizer of the Pan-African progressive movement. Ghana is therefore the most suitable foundation for the revival of the Pan-African movement, which aims to actively advance the interests of the African continent.
The opinions of governance specialists
While the possibility of reparations to address Africa’s economic problems is a complex matter that needs serious consideration, a Ghanaian governance expert has noted that it might be a significant step in righting past wrongs committed against the continent.
Reparations, according to Dr. Gbensuglo Alidu Bukari, a senior political science lecturer and head of the department of political science at the University for Development Studies, are about more than just monetary compensation; they also involve admitting and recognizing the systemic exploitation and dehumanization that were hallmarks of colonization and the transatlantic slave trade.
As a result, he urged African nations to create all-encompassing long-term development plans that tackle economic disparities, political governance, and the need for sustainable development.
In separate interviews, two additional scholars in the field of governance shared similar views, warning African countries to address the different problems that impede the continent’s progress rather than relying just on reparations.
Healing emotional injuries
Gilbert Ahinful Aidoo of the University of Education, Winneba, and Dr. Samuel Kofi Darkwa of the Institute for Economic Affairs emphasized that reparations to Africa are crucial in order to heal the continent’s emotional scars.
President John Dramani Mahama’s call for sufficient reparations to Africa for the anguish and injustice caused by colonization, the slave trade, and associated acts on the continent served as the impetus for the interviews.
According to Dr. Bukari, President Mahama’s demand for reparations to Africa as restitution for colonization and the abuses that followed it is a noteworthy and pertinent addition to an ongoing international discussion in the context of political and economic governance.
The past exploitation, enslavement, and colonization of Africa, which have left lasting wounds on the continent’s political, social, and economic fabric, are at the heart of this demand, he said.
In order to correct the inequities brought about by centuries of exploitation, the scholar went on to say that reparations may be a type of restorative justice.
“Reparations could, if properly structured, provide critical resources for infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other essential sectors by addressing the extraction of Africa’s wealth and resources, which significantly contributed to the continent’s underdevelopment,” he continued.
However, Dr. Bukari emphasized that reparations by themselves were unlikely to adequately address Africa’s intricate governance and economic problems.
The problems facing the continent are complex and include internal structural flaws, unfair international trade systems, corruption, and poor governance. Reparations could not result in any significant advancement if these underlying issues are not resolved.
According to Ghana’s President Mahama, “they could seemingly play a pivotal role in compensating for historical injustices, but they are not a cure-all for Africa’s economic and governance struggles,” he stated.
However, Dr. Darkwa asserted that unjust global trade practices, supported by organizations like the World Trade Organization (WTO), continued to erode African economies and that the problems facing African countries went beyond only financial ones.
Recognizing the wrongs of colonization, exploitation, slavery, and other atrocities, he argued, was critical because reparations help support vital areas like infrastructure, healthcare, and education, promoting long-term development.
Even while nations like Germany and the UK have tried to make up for historical wrongs, the discussion of reparations for Africa has to go beyond merely monetary recompense. The deeper, structural injustices that still impede the continent’s advancement must be addressed, according to Dr. Darkwa.
“Africa’s growth is frequently hampered rather than helped by the structure of international administration, especially the makeup of the UN Security Council, which does not have a permanent seat for any of the 55 African nations. He noted that these outside variables feed a cycle of underdevelopment that calls for an all-encompassing strategy to address the underlying causes.
According to him, African countries must address internal issues like widespread corruption, which squanders billions of dollars from vital development initiatives, and the pressing need for increased industrialization. He insisted that regional integration and sensible trade policies were critical to promoting cooperation and resilience throughout the continent.
“Moreover, the achievement of sustainable development will depend on the prudent utilization of Africa’s abundant natural and human resources,” he said.
He went on to say, “Reparations are a crucial step towards justice for Africans and people of African descent, but they must be a part of a broader strategy that addresses both internal challenges and global systemic injustices.”
Mr. Arhinful Aidoo acknowledged that the transatlantic slave trade, for example, had left a lasting effect on Africa, but he also stated that the continent’s economic problems were complex and called for more than monetary reparations.
It is also necessary to address structural problems like corruption, shoddy institutions, and dependency on the export of raw materials. For sustainable growth, it is essential to diversify economies, invest in human resources, and promote regional integration. He stated that while reparations could offer a financial boost, structural changes and sound governance throughout the continent are necessary to complement them.
Furthermore, significant structural change is required of the global economic system, which frequently disadvantages African countries through unfair trade and other activities, as well as the debt loads.
He said, “Reparations should be a part of a larger strategy that includes debt relief, fair trade agreements, and increased investment in African industries.”
In order to end modern neocolonialism, which he called the worst kind of colonialization, Mr. Arhinful Aidoo said African leaders must also work to lessen their own over-reliance on the “goodwill” of external donors. He also said that African leaders should improve the quality of their human resources and equip themselves with the modern technologies that will allow them to better manage and fully exploit their own resources.
To better position the continent to take use of its resources and other international agreements for the benefit of the vast majority of African peoples, intentional efforts should be made to increase African agency on the world scene.
Accra’s reparations proclamation
“Building a united front to advance the cause of justice and reparations to Africans” was the topic of the Accra Reparations Conference, which took place in Ghana’s capital from November 14–17, 2023. Delegates were drawn from every part of the African continent and the African Diaspora, including the Caribbean, Latin America, the United States, Europe, and the United Kingdom.
We should also remember that in August 2022, the African Union and the Government of the Republic of Ghana, in partnership with international civil society, hosted the Accra Summit on Reparations and Healing to build on ongoing discussions both inside and outside the African Continent and to investigate ways to establish a platform for the adoption of a single transcontinental reparations plan.
It is clear from the above that the establishment of a pan-African movement will be crucial to the reparations dream being realized as soon as it is practical.
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