President John Dramani Mahama has called for a broader and more inclusive global commitment to reparatory justice, stressing that acknowledging the injustices of slavery must be matched by sustained international action.
Addressing the opening of the Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice in Accra on Thursday, June 18, 2026, President Mahama said the recent adoption of a United Nations resolution on slavery and its legacy should be regarded as the beginning of a renewed global effort rather than the end of the conversation.
“The adoption of the resolution was never intended to mark the end of the journey,” he said. “It was intended to provide the foundation for a more meaningful process of engagement, reflection and action.”
The President emphasised that meaningful progress on reparatory justice would require the participation of more countries and institutions, arguing that lasting solutions can only be achieved through broad international cooperation.
“The pursuit of historical justice is not strengthened by narrowing the circle of participation. It is strengthened by expanding it,” President Mahama said, while addressing the high-level delegates from across the world.
He urged governments and institutions with differing historical, political and legal perspectives to remain committed to dialogue and constructive engagement in addressing the enduring legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.
“It is strengthened when those who may approach these issues from different historical, political or legal perspectives nevertheless choose dialogue over silence and engagement over distance,” he added.
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