By Dennis Peprah
Sunyani, (Bono), May 26, GNA – Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, the Executive Director of the Global Media Foundation (GloMeF) has called on the African Union (AU) to ensure that the ‘lost dignity’ of Africa is restored, 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 told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Sunyani to mark the commemoration of the AU.
The AU Day holds significant importance for Africans as it commemorates the founding of the then Organization of African Unity (OAU) on 25 May 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which aimed to promote unity and solidarity among African nations.
On the theme “Justice for Africans and people of African descent through reparations,” the 2025 commemoration shines a critical spotlight on the long-standing demand for reparative justice as a moral, historical, and legal imperative.
The theme reaffirms the AU commitment to tackling the enduring legacies of slavery, colonialism, and systemic racism.
Mr Ahenu stated that “as a leading civil society organization focused on human rights, media freedom, and social justice, GloMeF stands in full solidarity with all Africans and people of African descent calling for meaningful reparations to address centuries of exploitation and injustice”.
“In fact, we can’t build a truly just and equal world without reckoning with the past,” he stated, and stressing the need for the bloc to ensure that “those reparations include institutional reforms, educational equity, cultural restoration, and economic investments that uplift affected communities globally”.
Mr Ahenu called on governments in Africa to remain formidable, establish national and regional mechanisms to advance reparations claims, urging international bodies to support transparent dialogue, research, and accountability frameworks.
He urged civil society organizations and the media to intensify awareness creation and help amplify the voices of “those most impacted by historical injustices”.
As its contributions, Mr Ahenu said GloMeF intended to launch year-long advocacy campaign to educate the public, especially youth, on the history and significance of reparations, saying the foundation would also host community dialogues and policy fora as well as partner with local and international institutions to push for practical steps toward justice.
He said the 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.
GNA
Edited by Dennis Peprah/Kenneth Odeng Adade