Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority, Ransford Gyampo, has pushed back against criticism over comments he made on reparations following President John Dramani Mahama’s recent engagement at the United Nations.
In a Facebook post responding to what he described as “nation-wrecking propaganda,” Prof. Gyampo clarified that his earlier remarks, now circulating online, had been taken out of context from a broader television discussion.
According to him, the comments were made during an appearance on Key Points, a news analysis show on TV3, where he examined the issue of reparations within a wider academic and policy framework.
He explained that at the University of Ghana, a course on African development strategies critically assesses various approaches pursued since independence, including Import Substitution Industrialisation, Structural Adjustment Programmes, the Lagos Plan of Action, NEPAD, HIPC initiatives, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Within this context, Prof. Gyampo noted that while the transatlantic slave trade, now globally acknowledged as a grave crime against humanity, is a legitimate basis for reparations, such efforts must be matched with internal reforms across African states.
“The call for reparations would be meaningless if we do not address corruption, waste, and negative attitudes that continue to undermine development,” he stressed.
He maintained that his argument was not to dismiss reparations, but to underscore the need for accountability and attitudinal change to ensure any potential gains are not squandered.
Prof. Gyampo also commended President Mahama for what he described as an “unprecedented” diplomatic feat in securing global acknowledgment of the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crimes against humanity.
He expressed optimism that the government’s ongoing “reset agenda” could help tackle corruption and drive the mindset shift necessary to maximize the benefits of any future reparations.
“Congratulations to the President,” he wrote, adding that attempts to distort his position would not detract from the significance of the achievement.
