President John Dramani Mahama has called on African leaders to reform their governance system through actions not mere rhetoric.
Speaking at the African Union High-Level Dialogue on Democracy, Governance, and Human Rights, Tuesday, July 29, 2025, the President who also serves as the AU Champion on Reparative Justice noted that the enduring legacies of slavery, colonial exploitation, systemic racism, and economic subjugation are still evident in modern-day Africa.
President Mahama underscored the need for African leaders to shape a different and better future for the African continent and its younger generations.
“This dialogue cannot afford to become another ceremonial event filled with lofty speeches but void of action. Our citizens are watching and waiting. Our young people comprise the majority of our population and are growing increasingly impatient,” the President said.
Held under the theme “Justice, Right, Reparation, and State Building,” the dialogue convened key stakeholders to discuss Africa’s persistent structural and governance issues.
Mahama highlighted the relevance of the dialogue’s theme and reaffirmed a shared responsibility to address the deep-rooted challenges confronting the Continent’s progress.
“This dialogue could not have come at the more appropriate time. For far too long the architecture of African has rested on foundations imposed during the colonial era that neither understood or respected our histories, our culture or our aspirations,” he said.
He urged participating leaders and institutions to move beyond words and implement meaningful reforms.
“They are not asking for charity, they demand fairness, they demand opportunity and a state in our continent’s future. We must rise to the occasion not with rhetoric but with clear action,” he stressed.
