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Reparations are about justice, not charity – Kwesi Pratt
Veteran Ghanaian journalist Kwesi Pratt has called for a global push for reparatory justice, insisting that reparations for the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism should be treated as a matter of justice rather than charity.
Speaking on the second day of the High-Level Consultative Conference on the next steps following the landmark United Nations Resolution A/Res/80/250 on the trafficking of enslaved Africans, Pratt said reparations are a political, legal and historical necessity.
According to him, the transatlantic slave trade was not an isolated event but a system that was organised and supported by governments, chartered companies, churches and intellectual institutions that benefited from the exploitation of Africans.
He argued that the plantation economy that emerged from slavery created a racial order that portrayed Africans as inferior and justified their enslavement.
He added that the effects of this ideology survived through colonialism, apartheid and other systems that continue to disadvantage African people.
Pratt said reparatory justice must go beyond apologies and financial compensation.
He explained that it should include restitution, rehabilitation, institutional reforms, cultural restoration, educational correction and guarantees that such injustices never happen again.
“The demand for reparations is rooted in memory but directed towards the future,” he said, adding that the goal is not only to correct historical wrongs but also to transform conditions that continue to produce African underdevelopment.
He called for the return of stolen African artefacts and the rewriting of distorted historical accounts, arguing that both are essential components of reparatory justice.
The veteran journalist urged African governments, the African diaspora and international partners to ensure that the recent United Nations resolution becomes the basis for a concrete programme of action rather than a symbolic document.
He proposed the establishment of a permanent and coordinated reparations mechanism involving the African Union, CARICOM, African states, diaspora organisations, legal experts, historians, economists and civil society groups.
According to Pratt, the body should be tasked with researching historical crimes, documenting evidence, advocating for justice and engaging international institutions, including the United Nations, courts, financial institutions, universities and museums.
He called for extensive legal investigations into states, companies, banks, churches and other institutions that participated in or profited from slavery and colonial exploitation.
Mr. Pratt stressed the need for a global reparations education campaign, saying schools, universities, media organisations and cultural institutions must help correct misconceptions about Africa’s history.
He argued that Africa’s poverty and underdevelopment were not the result of destiny but were linked to centuries of exploitation, extraction of resources and colonial domination.
On development, he said reparations should include debt cancellation, industrial support, technology transfer, educational investment, healthcare development and infrastructure expansion across Africa and African-descended communities.
He further criticised attempts to reduce reparations to cultural tourism and symbolic gestures, insisting that the campaign is fundamentally about restoring dignity and addressing historical injustices.
Mr. Pratt questioned the participation of French President Emmanuel Macron in the conference, describing it as inappropriate in the context of discussions on reparatory justice.
Responding to questions after his presentation, he called on civil society organisations, the media and social movements to build international solidarity around the reparations agenda.
He argued that the struggle for reparatory justice is connected to broader global struggles against oppression and inequality and requires the support of people across the world.
Despite the challenges, Pratt expressed confidence that the campaign would succeed.
“We are not begging,” he said. “We are engaged in a struggle for justice.”
He maintained that Africa and its diaspora must continue pushing for accountability and meaningful action, expressing optimism that the fight for reparatory justice would ultimately be won.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer aspirant, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, has vowed to challenge elements within the party in 2027, accusing some members of disrespecting him and spreading false information about his health.
Speaking in an interview on Net 2 TV yesterday, Mr. Agyapong said he continues to enjoy respect from many people both in Ghana and abroad despite what he described as efforts by some individuals within the NPP to damage his reputation.
He alleged that false claims had been made about him, including reports that he had undergone a head operation.
According to him, such comments were part of attempts to undermine him.
Mr. Agyapong warned members of the NPP to brace themselves for what he described as “action” in June or July 2027.
He said he would not be intimidated by those he believes have treated him unfairly within the party.
According to him, some people think he would return to support them despite the alleged attacks against him.
However, he maintained that he would not remain silent and would respond at the appropriate time.
“They should wait and see. I’m giving them the time that June 2027, they will see action in this country,” he said.
The former Assin Central Member of Parliament did not explain what specific action he intends to take but insisted that he is not afraid of those he believes are working against him.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer aspirant and Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, has called on party members to put aside their differences and unite behind the NPP’s 2028 presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
In a statement issued on June 19, 2026, Dr. Acheampong said the party’s main focus should be rebuilding and returning to power after its defeat in the 2024 general election.
He noted that he understands the disappointment that follows a closely contested primary, having also contested in the NPP’s January 2026 flagbearer race and lost.
“I speak to you today not as a bystander to our recent contest, but as one who stood in it,” he stated.
Dr. Acheampong expressed concern over recent comments made by former Assin Central MP and former NPP flagbearer aspirant, Kennedy Agyapong, including his threat to take action against the party and some individuals.
According to him, Mr. Agyapong remains an important figure within the NPP whose contributions, loyalty and influence cannot be questioned.
However, he appealed to him to help promote unity rather than deepen divisions within the party.
“It is for that very reason that I urge him, respectfully but firmly, to lower the temperature and to lend his considerable influence to the work of healing rather than division,” Dr. Acheampong said.
He acknowledged that some individuals associated with Dr. Bawumia’s campaign, as well as his own campaign, directed disrespectful comments and insults at Mr. Agyapong during and after the primary contest.
Dr. Acheampong said such conduct was unfortunate and should have been addressed more quickly by party elders.
However, he stressed that there is no evidence that Dr. Bawumia authorised or supported those attacks.
According to him, the individuals involved acted on personal grievances and their actions should not be attributed to the NPP flagbearer or the party as a whole.
He noted that harsh words were exchanged by people on different sides during the contest, including Mr. Agyapong and some of his supporters, but said those comments were made in the heat of the campaign.
Dr. Acheampong called on all parties to forgive one another and work towards reconciliation.
He emphasized that the focus should be on supporting Dr. Bawumia and strengthening the NPP ahead of the 2028 elections.
“Dr. Bawumia is now the candidate of all of us. He carries the mandate not only of those who voted for him, but of every member who voted for Ken, for me, and for the others who contested,” he said.
Dr. Acheampong appealed to Mr. Agyapong, their supporters and all party members to end internal disputes and work together for the party’s success.
He concluded by stating that unity remains the NPP’s best path to victory in the next general election.
“Unity is not weakness. Unity is how we win,” he said.
By: Jacob Aggrey
