Ransford Gyampo, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority, has hit back at critics who misrepresented his comments on reparations following President John Dramani Mahama’s recent speech at the United Nations.
In a Facebook post, Prof. Gyampo dismissed circulating claims as “nation-wrecking propaganda,” insisting that his remarks were taken out of context. He explained that his statements came during a discussion on TV3, where he examined reparations within a broader academic and policy framework.
At the University of Ghana, Prof. Gyampo noted, a course on African development strategies reviews post-independence approaches, including Import Substitution Industrialisation, Structural Adjustment Programmes, the Lagos Plan of Action, NEPAD, HIPC initiatives, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Framing his comments in this context, he stressed that while the transatlantic slave trade is undeniably a grave crime against humanity and a valid basis for reparations, African states must simultaneously pursue internal reforms.
“The call for reparations would be meaningless if we do not address corruption, waste, and negative attitudes that continue to undermine development,” he said, emphasizing that his point was not to dismiss reparations but to underscore the need for accountability and a shift in mindset.
Prof. Gyampo also praised President Mahama’s diplomatic efforts, describing them as “unprecedented” in securing global recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as one of history’s gravest crimes.
“Congratulations to the President,” he wrote, adding that attempts to distort his position would not diminish the achievement.
He further expressed hope that the government’s ongoing “reset agenda” would tackle corruption and help ensure that any future reparations yield meaningful benefits for the country.
