Reparations Book Launch in Accra Galvanises Africans as PPF Urges Continent to Read, Share Ideas

The book: Reparations: History, Struggle, Politics and Law, has been officially launched in Accra, Ghana with a call on every African and all people of African descent who believe in the fight for Africa to read, share and act upon the ideas laid out in this book.

The book authored by Comrade Kwesi Pratt Jr., was launched under the auspices of the Pan-African Progressive Front (PPF)

The programme held at the AMA Emporium (Omanye Aba Hall) was chaired by Comrade Kyeretwie Opoku, the Convenor of the Socialist Movement of Ghana with Ghana President, John Dramani Mahama, in attendance among hundreds of other guests.

In his address, the author of the book Comrade and PPT coordinating committee team member, Comrade Kwesi Pratt Jr., reminded the gathering that reparations must never be reduced to financial compensation alone.

“No amount of money can make up for the inhumane brutality faced by the African people, inflicted by the Western world,” he emphasized.

“Reparations must not only address the past but also build a solid foundation for the future.”

He expressed gratitude to President Mahama for his presence and support.

Launching the book, Ghana President, John Mahama commended Comrade Kwesi for the magnificent and important piece, written.

The president, who is also the writer of the book’s foreword, noted that, writing the foreword of the book came easy for him as his interest in the issues of reparations was strongly ignited in 2023 when he attended a university’s conference.

“Just as Kwesi said, reparations are not only about the monetary compensations. It is about history. It is about recognizing the grievous harm that was done with slave trade,” he said.

The launch drew a broad cross-section of Ghanaian and Pan-African civic life, including journalists, ministers and
cultural figures from all around the world.

Notable on-site attendees included investigative journalist Anas Ameyaw Anas, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu (Education Minister), Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (Lands & Natural Resources), editor Kweku (Abdul-Malik) Baako Jr., former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah and poet Victoria Wilson, who during the program, performed a recital she wrote and dedicated to the theme of Reparations.

According to a statement by Humphrey Quaye, Head of the Pan-African Progressive Front Accra, Ghana:

“The Pan-African Progressive Front (PPF) proudly helped bring this book into being, transforming the collective
memory of our history into a living reality for Africa and its diaspora.

“The PPF hails Reparations as a timely, accessible and strategic work that strengthens grassroots and policy-level efforts across the continent.”