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President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah as Ghana’s Special Envoy for Reparations, reaffirming the country’s commitment to advancing global efforts for reparative justice for slavery and colonial exploitation. Announced this week, the appointment positions Dr. Spio-Garbrah to lead Ghana’s advocacy within Africa and across the diaspora — mobilising support, strengthening partnerships, and shaping policy frameworks that address historical injustices suffered by Africans and people of African descent. A seasoned diplomat and statesman, Dr. Spio-Garbrah brings extensive experience in governance, international relations, and economic development. He has served in several key government roles, including Minister of Trade and Industry, Minister of Education, and Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States and Mexico. He also previously held senior roles with the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) in London and the African Development Bank (AfDB), contributing to initiatives that promoted economic growth and regional integration. During his time as Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Spio-Garbrah championed industrialization, supported small and medium enterprises, and facilitated trade agreements that boosted Ghana’s export competitiveness. His tenure as Education Minister also saw significant reforms to enhance tertiary education governance and access. As Special Envoy for Reparations, Dr. Spio-Garbrah is expected to leverage his international network and diplomatic expertise to coordinate efforts with African governments, the African Union (AU), CARICOM, and global advocacy organisations to strengthen Africa’s collective push for reparations. The reparations movement has gained fresh momentum in recent years, with growing calls from African leaders for restitution and justice for centuries of exploitation under slavery and colonialism. President Mahama, a long-standing advocate of Pan-African solidarity, described the appointment as a strategic step in ensuring Ghana continues to play a leading role in the global reparations campaign. “Dr. Spio-Garbrah’s wealth of experience in international relations and his unwavering commitment to Africa’s progress make him ideally suited to lead Ghana’s contribution to this important global effort,” President Mahama stated.
