Ghana Urges AU-EU Joint Action on Violent Extremism and Slave Trade Reparations at Luanda Summit

Published: November 29, 2025 | Source: Life Pulse Daily

Introduction

At the 7th African Union-European Union (AU-EU) Summit held in Luanda, Angola, Ghana’s Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang delivered a compelling address on behalf of the President. She called for unified AU-EU action against violent extremism in West Africa and proposed a United Nations resolution on reparations for the trans-Atlantic slave trade. This pivotal speech underscores the need for collaborative strategies to address insecurity, economic stability, and historical injustices. Key focuses include a dedicated regional meeting on extremism, leveraging the African Peace and Security Architecture, and transforming EU commitments like the Global Gateway Initiative into tangible outcomes. This summit intervention highlights Ghana’s leadership in fostering AU-EU partnerships for peace, prosperity, and justice.

Analysis

The address by Vice President Opoku-Agyemang provides a comprehensive blueprint for AU-EU cooperation amid rising challenges in Africa. It emphasizes proactive measures against extremist groups in West Africa, which exploit poverty, marginalization, and political instability.

Addressing Violent Extremism

Violent extremism remains a critical threat in West Africa, with groups capitalizing on socioeconomic vulnerabilities. Ghana proposes a focused regional assembly to tackle root causes through unity and community-based peacebuilding. This approach aligns with the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), described as one of Africa’s major achievements, which facilitates early warning, prevention, and response to conflicts.

Push for Reparations

Ghana’s initiative to introduce a UN resolution on reparations recognizes the trans-Atlantic slave trade as one of humanity’s gravest injustices. This call invites European partners to co-author the resolution, aiming to convert policy discussions into actionable justice mechanisms. Reparations debates have gained momentum in international forums, linking historical accountability to contemporary development.

Economic and Developmental Priorities

Domestically, Ghana highlighted reforms yielding declining inflation and a stabilized cedi. Future plans for 2026 prioritize infrastructure, job creation, and human capital investment. Internationally, the speech welcomes the EU’s €150 billion Global Gateway Initiative for sustainable technologies in green energy and digital services, citing Ghana’s hydro dam and Wongbo water facility as priority projects.

Maritime and Humanitarian Challenges

Emerging threats like climate shocks, political tensions, and piracy exacerbate humanitarian issues. Ghana seeks an AU waiver on offshore patrols to enhance maritime security, reinforcing APSA’s role.

Summary

Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang’s speech at the Luanda AU-EU Summit advocates for immediate joint action on violent extremism in West Africa, a UN resolution for slave trade reparations, and strengthened AU-EU ties. She reaffirms Ghana’s commitment to economic reforms, APSA, and EU initiatives like Global Gateway, urging a shift from commitments to concrete results for mutual prosperity.

Key Points

Practical Advice

For policymakers, NGOs, and stakeholders in AU-EU relations, implementing these proposals requires structured steps. Here’s pedagogical guidance grounded in the summit’s themes:

Combating Violent Extremism

Organize the proposed regional assembly with agendas covering intelligence sharing, youth employment programs, and community resilience training. Partner with organizations like the AU’s Peace and Security Council to operationalize APSA mechanisms.

Advancing Reparations Discussions

Support Ghana’s UN resolution by gathering historical evidence from archives like UNESCO’s Slave Route Project. Engage in bilateral dialogues to define reparations forms, such as debt relief or development funds.

Leveraging EU Initiatives

African nations should align national projects, like Ghana’s hydro dam, with Global Gateway priorities. Apply for funding through EU-Africa investment platforms, prioritizing green energy transitions verifiable via IRENA reports.

Enhancing Maritime Security

Pursue the AU waiver collaboratively, integrating drone surveillance and joint patrols as per UNCLOS frameworks.

Businesses and educators can contribute by investing in West African vocational training to counter extremism’s appeal, drawing from successful models like the EU’s Emergency Trust Fund for Africa.

Points of Caution

While optimistic, the speech flags risks that demand vigilance:

• Extremist Exploitation: Groups thrive on poverty and fragility; delayed action could erode trust in regional bodies.
• Humanitarian Worsening: Climate shocks and piracy amplify crises, as seen in Sahel displacements reported by UNHCR.
• Implementation Gaps: Past summits show commitments often lag; monitor via AU-EU Joint Ministerial Committees.
• Political Tensions: Fragility in West Africa, per ECOWAS alerts, requires neutral mediation to avoid escalation.
• Economic Volatility: Ghana’s stabilization is positive, but global factors like commodity prices pose ongoing risks.

Stakeholders must prioritize verifiable metrics, such as APSA deployment success rates, to track progress.

Comparison

Compared to the 2022 AU-EU Summit in Brussels, which focused on a strategic partnership for resilience and transformation, the Luanda Summit builds on that vision with specifics. The 2022 event emphasized green transition and digitalization (€150 billion mobilized), echoed here via Global Gateway. However, Luanda uniquely spotlights violent extremism in West Africa with a regional meeting proposal, absent in prior agendas. Reparations gain renewed push, contrasting 2022’s silence on historical justice. Ghana’s economic updates show progress from 2022 inflation peaks (over 50%) to current declines, per IMF data. APSA praise persists, but Luanda adds maritime and climate dimensions, reflecting evolved threats.

Legal Implications

The proposals carry targeted legal dimensions. Ghana’s UN resolution on reparations for the trans-Atlantic slave trade invokes international law principles like state responsibility under the UN Charter and ILC Articles on State Responsibility. It aligns with precedents like the UN’s 2023 reparations study but remains non-binding without General Assembly adoption. Co-authorship could foster multilateral support.

The call for an AU waiver on offshore patrols relates to UNCLOS Article 98 on maritime safety, potentially enabling enhanced patrols without sovereignty conflicts. APSA operations must comply with AU Constitutive Act Article 4(h) for intervention in grave circumstances. EU Global Gateway funding adheres to OECD DAC guidelines for official development assistance, ensuring transparency. No direct legal mandates arise from the speech, but they urge adherence to existing frameworks like the AU-EU Joint Strategy.

Conclusion

Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang’s address at the Luanda AU-EU Summit positions Ghana as a bridge-builder for Africa-Europe relations. By prioritizing action on violent extremism in West Africa, slave trade reparations, economic reforms, and security architectures, it charts a path for sustainable prosperity. Transforming rhetoric into results demands accountability through joint monitoring. This partnership, rooted in mutual respect, holds promise for addressing shared challenges and unlocking collective potential.

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