Omanghana
Addressing a special joint sitting of the Jamaican Parliament on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, President Mahama described the forced enslavement of an estimated 12.5 million Africans as humanity’s “gravest crime against humanity.”
He said the campaign for reparations should not be interpreted as an expression of anger, hostility or vengeance against countries connected to the slave trade and colonialism. Instead, he explained that the movement is founded on truth, accountability, healing and global reconciliation.
Mahama argued that the effects of slavery and colonial exploitation remain visible in the economic and social inequalities affecting Africa and its diaspora. He therefore called for structured international measures to address the damage caused by centuries of forced labor, cultural destruction and systemic discrimination.
During his four-day state visit to Jamaica, the Ghanaian leader pledged Ghana’s full support for Jamaica’s planned petition to King Charles III seeking formal reparatory accountability from the British monarchy.
He said Ghana would continue working with Jamaica, the African Union, Caribbean nations and the wider African diaspora to ensure that reparatory justice receives serious attention within international institutions.
Mahama also reaffirmed Ghana’s leadership in the African Union’s global campaign to have slavery formally recognized under international law as one of the most serious crimes against humanity.
The initiative builds on a United Nations General Assembly resolution adopted in March and seeks reparations, the return of stolen cultural artefacts and concrete measures to correct inequalities created by slavery and colonial rule.
Beyond discussions on historical justice, President Mahama and Jamaican Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness held bilateral talks aimed at strengthening relations between Ghana and Jamaica.
The two governments agreed to pursue a Ghana-Jamaica Defense Cooperation Agreement, develop labor mobility arrangements and create opportunities for Ghanaian companies to participate in infrastructure projects in Jamaica.
The discussions marked a new phase in relations between Africa and the Caribbean, with both leaders emphasizing the importance of converting their shared history and cultural ties into stronger economic, security and development partnerships.
Source: Omanghana
