President John Dramani Mahama on Sunday announced that Ghana will pursue a structured dialogue with the United Kingdom, the African Union, CARICOM and the African diaspora on reparatory justice. The agenda, he said, will cover five key areas: a formal apology for the trans‑atlantic slave trade; restitution of stolen cultural artefacts; targeted investments in education, healthcare, youth empowerment, science, climate resilience and other development priorities; coordinated efforts to dismantle systemic racism and Afrophobia; and strategic development partnerships to tackle structural poverty and inequitable global economic arrangements.
Mahama welcomed British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s statement that the UK was open to a formal apology and a structured dialogue, noting that Burnham had ruled out financial reparations. He stressed that an apology alone would not undo the injustices of slavery and colonialism, but it would be a crucial first step toward healing and repair.
The president cited the Accra Reset, the Bridgetown Initiative, the Accra Next Steps Commitments, CARICOM’s Ten Point Plan and the AU’s declarations on reparatory justice as guiding frameworks for the discussions. He called for good‑faith dialogue that includes the African Union, CARICOM, the diaspora and other countries that participated in the slave trade, while acknowledging that differences of opinion may exist.
Mahama reiterated Ghana’s solidarity with African nations, CARICOM and people of African descent in the Americas, expressing hope that the engagement would lead to lasting justice, reconciliation and an end to racial discrimination. He concluded that Ghana is ready to walk this road in partnership with the UK and other allies to achieve genuine healing and a new world without racism.
