Sunyani: Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the Executive Director of the Global Media Foundation (GloMeF), has urged the African Union (AU) to focus on restoring the ‘lost dignity’ of Africa as the bloc seeks reparations. ‘Reparation is merely not about financial compensation, but recognition, restitution, and restoration of the dignity of millions whose lives and futures have been shaped by historic and systemic wrongs,’ he remarked during an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani on the occasion of AU Day.
According to Ghana News Agency, AU Day is significant for Africans as it commemorates the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the aim of promoting unity and solidarity among African nations. The theme for the 2025 commemoration, ‘Justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations,’ highlights the long-standing demand for reparative justice as a moral, historical, and legal imperative. This theme reaffirms the AU’s commitment to addressing the legacies of slavery, colonialism, and systemic racism.
Mr Ahenu, speaking on behalf of GloMeF, emphasized their solidarity with Africans and people of African descent who are calling for meaningful reparations to address centuries of exploitation and injustice. He stated, ‘In fact, we can’t build a truly just and equal world without reckoning with the past,’ underscoring the necessity for reparations that include institutional reforms, educational equity, cultural restoration, and economic investments to uplift affected communities globally.
He called on African governments to establish national and regional mechanisms to advance reparations claims and encouraged international bodies to support transparent dialogue, research, and accountability frameworks. He also urged civil society organizations and the media to amplify the voices of those most impacted by historical injustices.
Mr Ahenu announced GloMeF’s intentions to launch a year-long advocacy campaign aimed at educating the public, particularly the youth, on the history and significance of reparations. The foundation plans to host community dialogues and policy forums, partnering with local and international institutions to push for practical steps toward justice. GloMeF is a human rights and development advocacy organization that leverages the media, community engagement, and policy advocacy to promote justice, equity, and sustainable development.