John Mahama
@JDMahama · Africa
John Mahama is followed by Storyz World for government and public service coverage connected to Ghana in the Africa chapter.
As the African Union Champion for Reparations, I briefed my colleagues at the 21st Extraordinary AU Summit in Luanda on the global momentum behind our quest for reparatory justice. Following the historic UN General Assembly Resolution (ARES8250), achieved by a coalition of the AU, CARICOM, and the African Diaspora, which declared the enslavement of Africans the gravest crime against humanity, Ghana asked the vital question: What next? In June this year, we convened the Next Steps Conference in Accra. We expanded our mandate to include indentured labour as a historical injustice. We also established a High-Level Advisory Council on Reparatory Justice, a Global Experts Panel on the Restitution of Cultural Heritage, and a Global Legal Panel on Reparatory Justice. A topic once considered taboo is now reshaping global diplomacy. We see the return of looted African artefacts, legislative repeals like France’s Code Noir, and historic acknowledgements and commitments from global institutions. As a follow-up, Ghana will host a high-level side event during the 81st UN General Assembly Session this September to receive progress reports from our established panels. I have invited all Heads of State to join us as we continue to lead the charge for justice, restitution, and dignity for Africa and people of African descent worldwide.
At the 21st Extraordinary AU Summit in Luanda, I reaffirmed Ghana’s stance: African ownership of peace and security must be matched by African ownership of its financing. We must move from words to action to build a sustainable and self-reliant peace architecture for our continent.
In Launda, Angola, for the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU). We will be discussing how we can strengthen conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms on the continent. https://t.co/0bZ8wMvPpt
During bilateral talks on the sidelines of the AU Extraordinary Summit in Accra, I reiterated Ghana’s call for the African Union to formally address the escalating xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa. I am pleased that AU Commission Chairman Mahmoud Ali Youssouf has acknowledged the urgent need to table this matter for discussion at the next AU Summit. In my meeting with a special envoy dispatched by President Cyril Ramaphosa to meet with me in Accra earlier in the week, I made Ghana’s position clear to the envoy. We do not harbour ill will toward South Africa. However, we remain deeply concerned about the attacks and the significant capital losses suffered by people from various countries on the continent. This undermines the very spirit of African solidarity and our collective efforts toward continental integration. Sweeping this matter under the carpet will not resolve its root causes. That is why Ghana officially wrote to the AU Commission requesting that this issue be placed on the agenda for the next summit. Placing this on the AU agenda gives South Africa a formal, constructive platform to share its perspective, and together, as a continent, work toward a lasting solution. Let us remember that our strength as a continent lies in our unity. Ghana remains committed to working with all AU member states to find lasting solutions that protect the dignity, safety, and investments of every African, everywhere on our continent.