The president, John Dramani Mahama, has rallied his colleague African leaders, civil society, youth groups and members of the diaspora to join hands to seek justice for Africans and persons of African descent for the harrowing experience of slavery inflicted on their forebears."For far too long, the legacy of slavery, colonialism and neo-colonialism has cast a long shadow on the lives and progress of Africans and people of African descent.
These historical injustices have left deep scars," he stated.President MahamaPresident Mahama said this in Accra yesterday in a video message to mark this year's African Union Day.The observation was on the theme "Justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations".In the considered view of President Mahama, reparations are not merely about financial compensations only."They are about acknowledging the profound and enduring damage inflicted upon our people.
They are about confronting the uncomfortable truths of our past and taking concrete steps to rectify these wrongs," he stated.President Mahama continued: "We seek justice, justice that encompasses a comprehensive range of measures including official and unequivocal apologies from the nations and institutions responsible for perpetuating these historical injustices".He also wants the crippling debt burdens that continue to stifle economic growth in many African nations - a direct consequence of exploitation and unfair trade practices addressed.As AU champion for the course of seeking justice for Africans, President Mahama advocated that resources and expertise were provided to empower African nations to achieve sustainable development to participate fully in the global economy.He wants "stolen artifacts and cultural treasures that rightfully belong to our heritage" returned and investment in educational initiatives to promote a deeper understanding of African history, culture and contributions to the world."This is not a simple task.
It requires courage, determination, and a unified front.
