On Africa Day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and President John Dramani Mahama have both emphasized the importance of addressing historical injustices and building a sustainable future for the people of Africa. Guterres calls for reparatory justice grounded in accountability, reconciliation, and equity, while Mahama urges collective action from African leaders, civil society organizations, youth groups, and members of the diaspora to heal historical wounds and unlock the full potential of Africa’s people.

Guterres highlights Africa's rich heritage, vibrant diversity, and remarkable contributions to the global community, noting its young population and growing role in renewable energy and technological innovation. However, he acknowledges the scars of slavery, colonialism, apartheid, and systemic racism that continue to affect Africans and people of African descent. He renews his call for reparatory justice and emphasizes the importance of greater African representation, particularly at the Security Council, and reforms to the international financial system to support African countries with financing and debt relief.

Mahama stresses that reparations are not just about financial compensation but about acknowledging the deep and lasting impact of historical injustices. He calls for official apologies from institutions responsible for slavery and colonialism, debt relief for African nations, and the return of stolen cultural artifacts. He also highlights the importance of investing in education to deepen understanding of African history and contributions to the world.

President Mahama reflected on the lasting consequences of centuries of exploitation, dispossession, and structural inequality imposed upon the African continent and its diaspora. He reaffirmed his commitment to leading the African Union’s reparations campaign and called for solidarity and collective action from African leaders, institutions, and diaspora communities to confront the uncomfortable truths of the past and take concrete steps to rectify these wrongs. Central to his vision is a comprehensive framework for justice that includes formal apologies from former colonial powers and the institutions that profited from African exploitation.

Reparations refer to the act of making amends for historical injustices, particularly those inflicted through slavery, colonialism, and systemic exploitation. The call for reparations has been a persistent demand spanning generations, rooted in the transatlantic slave trade. Efforts to address these wrongs have gained momentum, with initiatives like the establishment of a Global Reparation Fund by the African Union and CARICOM in 2023, aiming to seek compensation and formal apologies from former colonial powers.

Both Guterres and Mahama emphasize the need to build a future where justice prevails, the wounds of the past are healed, and the potential of every African and person of African descent is fully realized. They call for a united effort to create a continent of prosperity, opportunity, and equality for all its people.