Mahama to lead Africa’s reparations push at UN General Assembly

President John Dramani Mahama is set to depart Accra for the United States on Monday for a high-profile diplomatic mission to United Nations Headquarters in New York and engagements in Pennsylvania, where he will spearhead Africa’s renewed push for reparatory justice over the transatlantic slave trade.

The visit is widely regarded as historic, as President Mahama will present a landmark resolution on behalf of the African Union at the United Nations General Assembly, seeking to formally declare the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity.

The move signals a unified continental stance and represents one of the strongest diplomatic efforts yet toward global recognition of historical injustices against Africans and people of African descent.

His itinerary will begin on Tuesday, March 24, with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the African Burial Ground National Monument.

The site, discovered in 1991 during construction in Lower Manhattan, is one of the most significant historical landmarks dedicated to enslaved Africans in North America.

Dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, it is believed to contain the remains of over 15,000 Africans both enslaved and free, who lived and died in colonial New York. The memorial stands today as a powerful symbol of resilience, remembrance, and the enduring legacy of slavery in the Americas.

Following the ceremony, President Mahama will convene and deliver a keynote address at a High-Level Special Event on Reparatory Justice at the UN Headquarters.

The event, themed “Reparatory Justice for the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and the Racialised Chattel Enslavement of Africans,” will bring together global leaders, diplomats, scholars, and civil society actors to deliberate on pathways toward justice and redress.

The reparations agenda itself traces its roots to early post-independence Africa. The issue was first formally raised in 1963 by the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union, as part of broader Pan-African calls for justice, dignity, and restitution.

Over the decades, the conversation has evolved through advocacy by Caribbean nations, African governments, and diaspora movements, with institutions such as CARICOM advancing structured reparations frameworks.

Today, the AU’s position reflects a consolidated demand for acknowledgment, apology, and tangible compensation for the enduring socio-economic consequences of slavery and colonial exploitation.

On Wednesday, President Mahama will address the UN General Assembly in commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

In his address, he is expected to articulate Ghana’s position, now adopted by the African Union, on the need for a formal UN declaration recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as a crime of the highest magnitude, comparable to other crimes against humanity in international law.

Beyond New York, the President’s visit will extend to Pennsylvania, While in Pennsylvania, President Mahama will be conferred with an honorary doctorate by Lincoln University on March 26, 2026, in recognition of his leadership and global advocacy for justice and reparatory action.

The honorary degree is being awarded to honour his distinguished public service, democratic governance, and his role as the African Union’s Champion for Advancing the Cause of Justice and the Payment of Reparations, highlighting his significant contributions to international cooperation and equitable development.

Lincoln University, founded in 1854 as the first degree‑granting historically Black college in the United States, has a long legacy of shaping leaders and promoting higher education for Africans and African Americans alike.

The institution counts Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, among its notable alumni, giving special historical significance to President Mahama’s visit and honour.

President Mahama’s mission underscores a growing international momentum behind reparations, as nations and institutions increasingly confront the long-term consequences of slavery and systemic racial injustice. For Africa and its diaspora, the visit represents both a remembrance of the past and a strategic step toward redefining the future.

Source: Diplomatic Times