After decades of delay, reparations for Ghanaians affected by atrocities under former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh have finally commenced, marking a significant milestone for justice in West Africa.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Wednesday (14 December), William Nyarko, Executive Director of the Africa Center for International Law and Accountability (ACILA) and Coordinator of the Jammeh2Justice Ghana Coalition, described the commencement of reparations as a historic moment.
“From 1994, when Jammeh took office, to 2026, it has been a long road,” Nyarko said. “The first part is financial reparations, but the second part remains the pursuit of justice for the perpetrators.”
Nyarko recounted the violent crackdown against both Gambian nationals and West Africans, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, and targeted attacks on journalists. Eight Ghanaians, among others, were executed without due process, he said.
The current reparations process is being implemented in phases, starting with victims from 1994. Nyarko explained that this phased approach ensures all victims are accounted for systematically. Measures are also being taken to assist rural victims and the elderly in securing necessary documentation to claim compensation, including help with Ghana cards and bank accounts.
Nyarko underscored the importance of ensuring that the funds, originally provided by Gambia for victims, reach them directly. He noted that past attempts saw portions of the money used by the Ghanaian government instead of being paid to victims.
He emphasized that justice goes beyond financial compensation, stressing the need to hold Yahya Jammeh and his accomplices accountable. “Justice looks like bringing those responsible for these crimes against humanity to account,” Nyarko said, noting that some perpetrators have already been sentenced in the US, Switzerland, and Germany.
Nyarko also credited civil society and media organisations for keeping the issue alive and ensuring accountability. “Without their efforts, this process would have stalled,” he said.
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