President Mahama To Lead African Union Talks On Reparations And Gender Equality At 39th Summit

Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama will lead key discussions at the 39th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, focusing on a range of continental priorities including reparations for historical injustices and gender equality. His participation highlights Ghana’s active role in shaping the AU’s agenda on social justice and inclusive development.

President Mahama departed Accra for the summit, where he is expected to co-host several high-level side events that will address major policy issues affecting Africa. These include conversations on financial inclusion, support for the AU theme of the year on reparations, and initiatives aimed at strengthening gender equity across member states.

As part of the Summit’s programme, Mahama is scheduled to engage with other African leaders and representatives of international organisations on strategic priorities for the continent. This will include bilateral meetings aimed at deepening cooperation and exploring ways to accelerate implementation of AU commitments, including those under Agenda 2063, the African Union’s long-term blueprint for inclusive growth and integration.

Reparations have become a central theme in African Union discourse, and under Ghana’s stewardship as AU Champion for Reparations Justice, President Mahama has urged collective action to address the lingering impacts of colonialism, slavery, apartheid and systemic discrimination endured by Africans and people of African descent. These calls align with the AU’s 2025 theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations”, which seeks to mobilise political will and institutional cooperation across the continent and the diaspora.

Gender equality and empowerment are also key priorities at the Summit. President Mahama and other leaders are expected to put forward strategies for closing gender gaps in education, economic participation and political leadership, while reinforcing policies that protect the rights and opportunities of women and girls. This reflects the AU’s ongoing efforts to mainstream gender equity into broader development frameworks and enhance inclusive governance across member states.

In addition to official Summit sessions, President Mahama will host side events aimed at showcasing Ghana’s initiatives and perspectives, and will represent Ghana in multilateral dialogues on pressing continental issues. His participation underscores Ghana’s commitment to partnership and progress on key AU priorities, from sustainable development and reparatory justice to gender equality and human rights.