President John Dramani Mahama has urged people of African descent to remember the injustices of slavery without allowing the past to define their future, saying the campaign for reparations is rooted in hope and justice.
Addressing Jamaica’s Parliament on August 4, Mahama said the history of people of African descent is one of resilience and achievement as much as suffering.
“While we must never forget the injustices of history, neither must we allow them to imprison us,” he said.
“The story of people of African descent is not simply one of suffering. It is equally a story of resilience, excellence, and enduring achievement.”
Mahama celebrated the contributions of Africans and the African diaspora to global civilisation.
“It is a story of civilizations that advanced human knowledge, of freedom fighters who challenged oppression, of innovators who expanded the frontiers of science and technology, of artists whose creativity enriched global culture, and of statesmen and women who inspired nations to believe in the possibilities of freedom and self-determination,” he said.
He singled out Jamaica for its role in that history.
“Few countries have contributed to this legacy I describe more profoundly than Jamaica,” Mahama stated.
The President said the pursuit of reparative justice is ultimately about securing a better future.
“Our advocacy is ultimately about hope. Hope that our future generations will inherit a world in which historical truth is acknowledged, human dignity is upheld, and justice becomes the foundation for lasting reconciliation. That is the vision that continues to unite Ghana and Jamaica,” he said.
