ON THE THEME: “JUSTICE, RIGHTS, REPARATIONS AND STATE BUILDING”
29 JULY 2025, ACCRA, GHANA

Your Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana;

Your Excellencies, Former Heads of State and Government Present here today;

Your Excellency, Samuel Okudzeto Abiakwa, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Republic of Ghana;

Your Excellency, Ambassador Amma Twum-Amoah, AU Commissioner for Social Development, Health, and Humanitarian Affairs;

Your Excellency, Hon. Wilson Almeida Adão, Chairperson of the African Committee of Experts on Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) and Chair of the AGA-APSA Platform;

Your Excellency, CEO of APRM;

Your Excellency, Presiding Officer of ECOSOCC;

Your Excellencies, Officials from the Government of the Republic of Ghana;

Your Excellencies, Chairperson and Members of the Peace and Security Council (PSC);

Your Excellencies, Chairperson and Members of the PRC Sub Committee on Human rights, Democracy and governance (HRDG);

Distinguished Representatives of Regional Economics Communities and Regional Mechanisms;

Distinguished Representatives of UN Agencies and Partners;

Your Majesties, Queen Mothers of the Traditional Authorities of the Republic of Ghana;

Distinguished Representatives of Women, Youth, Civil Society, Media and Academia;

Distinguished Experts and Participants;

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen:

I would like to begin by expressing my deepest appreciation for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to us by His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, his government, and the wonderful people of the Republic of Ghana.

The city of Accra, a historic beacon of Pan-Africanism and the African Renaissance, is a most fitting host for the 13th High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance. It offers a unique opportunity to bring together Africans from across the Continent and the Diaspora to reflect, reconnect, and renew our shared commitment to Africa’s future.

It is indeed a great honour to welcome you all to this important Dialogue, taking place under the theme:“Justice, Rights, Reparations, and State Building.”

Our continent, rich in resources and energized by a dynamic and youthful population, stands at the threshold of transformative progress. Guided by Agenda 2063, the African Union’s strategic blueprint, we are collectively committed to building a prosperous, democratic, and peaceful Africa.

The transformation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) into the African Union (AU) was a defining milestone in our history-one that reflects our unwavering aspiration for continental unity and integration. Through enhanced intra-African trade, the free movement of people and goods, and a renewed focus on peace and security, we continue to work toward the Africa we want: one that is united, dignified, and globally influential.

Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

We gather here today in recognition of a fundamental truth: peace and stability are the cornerstones of sustainable development. It is within this context that we explore the vital nexus between democratic governance, peace and security, and development, through the lens of this year’s High-Level Dialogue theme:“Justice, Rights, Reparations, and State Building,” which aligns with the African Union’s 2025 Theme of the Year: “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations.”

Traditionally, reparations have been seen as compensation offered to individuals directly harmed by grave violations of civil or political rights. However, the African Union Transitional Justice Policy, adopted in February 2019, has expanded this understanding. It now embraces collective reparations, aimed at structural and socioeconomic transformation in post-conflict societies, not just redress for individuals, but a broader effort to restore dignity and promote societal healing.

Thus, reparations must not be viewed in isolation from justice and collective rights. When linked together, they provide the foundation not only for economic advancement, but also for democratic renewal, human rights promotion, and sustainable peace.

As we engage in these discussions, it is critical to reflect on how conflict, governance deficits, and instability impact the state-building process. These challenges are deeply interconnected. Addressing them requires unwavering commitment to the African Union’s Shared Values and the instruments that guide our work in advancing democracy and governance across the continent.

Excellencies,

Africa’s path has been marked by resilience in the face of immense challenges. Among the most devastating were the transatlantic slave trade and the colonial project. These eras were defined by the mass displacement and captivity of our people, the looting of cultural artefacts, the destruction of indigenous governance systems, and the intentional erosion of African social and cultural norms.

These historical injustices not only tore at the fabric of our societies, but also laid the foundation for many of today’s enduring inequalities-economic marginalization, distorted borders, and persistent political instability.

The First Pan-African Conference on Reparations, held in Abuja in April 1993 and convened by the Group of Eminent Persons, clearly articulated that the issue at hand is not about the assignment of guilt, but rather the acknowledgment of responsibility by those states whose prosperity was built on the suffering and exploitation of African peoples.

This call for accountability, reaffirmed in Assembly Decision 884, speaks to the moral, legal, and political imperative of reparatory justice. It is an essential step toward restoring the dignity, rights, and well-being of Africans and people of African descent, and a necessary component in the fight against systemic racism and structural discrimination.

Colonial systems entrenched extractive economies and introduced pro-European values, such as privatization of communal land and commodification of natural resources. These systems were designed not to develop Africa, but to fuel industries abroad. The debt incurred in pursuit of these colonial enterprises was later passed on to newly independent African states, burdening them from the outset of their development journeys.

The legacy of slavery, colonialism, and racial oppression is not a distant chapter in history, it continues to shape the present. It underpins systemic inequalities that continue to disadvantage millions. Reparations, therefore, are not a symbolic gesture - they are a strategic and restorative measure, essential to healing historical wounds and confronting deeply rooted injustices.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Reparations and restorative justice are key to transforming our continent. They provide the basis for dismantling inequality, promoting reconciliation, and building a future rooted in dignity, equity, and shared prosperity. Advancing the reparations agenda offers the African Union an opportunity to lead boldly-to mobilize the Continent and its global Diaspora in a united pursuit of justice.

The goal of this 13th High-Level Dialogue is to identify the enablers of justice, rights, reparations, and state-building. Importantly, we seek to uncover the peace dividends that reparations can yield-by fostering social cohesion, redressing grievances, and rebuilding trust in state institutions.

We also wish to acknowledge the critical role of the AGA-APSA Platform, which has become a cornerstone in the promotion of democratic governance and state-building. By strengthening collaboration among Organs, Institutions, Regional Economic Communities, and Regional Mechanisms, this Platform has emerged as a powerful enabler of our Shared Values.

Excellencies, Distinguished Participants,

Allow me to conclude by emphasizing that this Dialogue is not just a space for conversation. It is a catalyst for action. It is inclusive of youth and womens voices and represents a unique opportunity to shape policies and strategies that will lead us to a peaceful, united, and globally influential Africa.

Let us use this moment to share insights, foster partnerships, and ignite transformative change. The Africa we want is within reach - an Africa anchored in democracy, justice, human dignity, and lasting peace.

In closing, I extend my sincere thanks once again to H.E. President John Dramani Mahama, his government, and the people of Ghana for their warm hospitality in this historic and vibrant city of Accra.

I also thank our partners and stakeholders for their unwavering support in organizing this important gathering.

I wish you all fruitful and impactful deliberations over the coming days.

I thank you.