Ghana is at the forefront of Africa’s quest for reparations, hosting a two-day joint Bureau meeting of the African Union Committee of Experts on Reparations (AUCER) and the African Union Legal Experts on Reparations (AULER).
The gathering aims to strengthen coordination among technical and legal experts, ensuring a unified and strategic African approach to addressing historical injustices.
Speaking at the opening session, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP), highlighted the country’s historic role as a key site in the transatlantic slave trade, noting that many Africans forcibly removed from the continent passed through forts and castles along Ghana’s coast.
He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment as the AU Champion for Reparations, emphasizing that Africa’s pursuit of reparations is a matter of justice, not charity.
“Reparations are not simply a moral appeal; they are a legal, historical, and economic imperative,” he said, calling for clarity of purpose, sustained coordination, and strategic engagement to ensure Africa’s position is effectively represented on the global stage.
Ambassador Amr Aljowaily, Director of the Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) at the African Union, explained that the joint meeting is a direct outcome of African Union Assembly Decision 884, which established reparations as a flagship programme of the Union.
He said the meeting represents a crucial step toward consolidating Africa’s institutional mechanisms on reparations and strengthening its voice in multilateral forums.
Advocate Kingston Magaya, Acting Chair of AULER, described reparations as a legal imperative grounded in international law, justice, and human dignity.
He noted that the transatlantic slave trade and colonial practices continue to produce lasting social, economic, and cultural impacts, making a coordinated legal strategy essential.
Dr. Jane Mufamadi, Chair of AUCER, emphasized the importance of a coherent continental programme of action, inclusive engagement, and knowledge-sharing to ensure Africa’s reparations agenda is credible, coordinated, and globally recognized.
The two-day meeting is expected to guide the next phase of Africa’s engagement on reparations, positioning the continent to speak with one voice on historical injustices and to advance justice for Africans and people of African descent worldwide.
Enock Akonnor is an experienced Ghanaian journalist, based in Kumasi and currently serves as the CEO and Managing Editor of www.leakyghana.com.
With a wealth of expertise built over many years in the media industry, he has earned a solid reputation as one of Ghana’s most sought-after journalists.
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