On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, President John Dramani Mahama delivered a landmark keynote address at the United Nations Headquarters in New York during a High-Level Special Event on Reparatory Justice.
Speaking in his capacity as the African Union (AU) Champion on Reparations, Mahama presented a unified African position, calling for a global shift from symbolic remembrance to "accountability and repair".
The "Gravest Crime Against Humanity"
The centerpiece of the President's speech was the introduction of a historic resolution, adopted by the African Union, to formally declare the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement as the gravest crime against humanity.
Asserting Agency: Mahama argued that reparatory justice is not a request for charity but a demand for the restoration of full human dignity. "Reparatory justice will not be handed to us. Like political independence, it must be asserted, pursued, and secured through determination and unity," he declared.
Systemic Transformation: He emphasized that reparations must address the "deep civilizational wounds" and the erasure of African heritage caused by centuries of colonialism, apartheid, and exploitation.
Economic Reality: The President highlighted that the economic impact of colonial exploitation has cost the continent trillions of dollars in both human and material resources.
Key Proposals for the UN Reset
President Mahama called for the United Nations to embark on its own "Reset Agenda" to reflect the modern world:
Security Council Reform: He reiterated the demand for at least one permanent seat for Africa on the UN Security Council, calling the current structure an "almost totalitarian guardianship" over the rest of the world.
Financial Architecture: He called for a reset of the "rigged" global financial architecture to give Africa a greater say in multilateral institutions.
Decade of Reparations: He advocated for the AU’s proposed Decade of Reparations (2026–2036) to ensure sustained commitment to historical justice beyond commemorative events.
Itinerary of the Historic Visit
The UN event was the first major stop in a week-long mission focused on historical truth-telling:
| Date | Event / Location | Significance |
| Tue, Mar 24 | UN High-Level Event | Keynote address on Reparatory Justice. |
| Tue, Mar 24 | African Burial Ground | Wreath-laying ceremony to honor enslaved Africans. |
| Wed, Mar 25 | UN General Assembly | International Day of Remembrance address. |
| Thu, Mar 26 | Lincoln University | Keynote speech at the historic HBCU in Pennsylvania. |
| Thu, Mar 26 | Temple University | Engagement with the Ghanaian diaspora in Philadelphia. |
"The truth cannot be buried. The legal foundations are sound; the moral imperative is undeniable." — President John Dramani Mahama, March 2026.
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