President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana will make the campaign for reparations for historical injustices against Africa a key priority when the country assumes the rotating chairmanship of the African Union (AU) in 2027.
Speaking during a meeting with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, President Mahama said Ghana had already begun preparing its agenda ahead of taking over the continental leadership role.
According to the President, Ghana intends to build on its leadership in advocating reparations while also promoting gender equality and advancing the welfare of children across Africa.
“We have started looking at some issues that we will push on the agenda the year that we chair. We are already champions in several areas. One is reparations,” President Mahama said.
He noted that Ghana, with the support of the African Union, successfully sponsored a historic motion on reparations at the United Nations General Assembly.
“With the support of the AU, we were able to move a historic motion on the floor of the General Assembly. We’ve held the follow-up conference here in Accra called ‘The Next Steps’,” he stated.
President Mahama further disclosed that Ghana is planning another high-level meeting on the sidelines of the upcoming United Nations General Assembly to assess progress made by committees established to advance the reparations agenda.
“So we are looking again on the sidelines of the UN to hold a high-level meeting to review the work the committees have started to do,” he added.
Ghana is expected to officially assume the rotating chairmanship of the African Union in 2027, with government indicating that reparatory justice, gender equality and child welfare will form part of the country’s key priorities during its tenure.
