Ghana hosts global landmark summit on slavery reparations
Ghana has hosted a landmark international conference aimed at transforming growing global support for slavery reparations into practical measures for justice, as reported by Africanews with AP on June 19th.
The three-day event brought together leaders, policymakers and activists from Africa and the Caribbean following a historic United Nations resolution adopted in March that described the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity.”
Speaking at the conference in Accra, Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Ablakwa said the movement for reparations had gained unprecedented momentum since the resolution was approved by 123 UN member states. While the measure is not legally binding, it calls on countries involved in the slave trade to engage in restitution and compensation efforts.
Ghanaian President John Mahama announced the creation of three panels to examine pathways toward reparatory justice. The groups will focus on political leadership, restitution mechanisms and the legal dimensions of reparations.
“The question before us is not whether history can be changed — it cannot — but whether we have the courage to confront it honestly,” Mahama told delegates.
The conference comes amid growing international discussion on the legacy of slavery and colonialism. French President Emmanuel Macron recently supported the symbolic repeal of historical decrees linked to slavery in French colonies and acknowledged the need to address reparations, although he warned against creating unrealistic expectations. Addressing the conference by video link, Macron said history should not be viewed solely through a financial lens.
Meanwhile, Pope Leo XIV last month apologised for the Catholic Church’s centuries-long delay in condemning slavery.
Among the speakers was Nigerian Nobel Prize-winning author and activist Wole Soyinka, who argued that reparations must extend beyond apologies or financial compensation. He said genuine justice should focus on restoring dignity and correcting the lasting effects of centuries of dehumanisation.
Participants also discussed potential forms of reparations, including compensation funds, debt relief and the return of cultural artefacts taken during colonial rule.
As global support grows, Ghana hopes the conference will help move the reparations debate from symbolic recognition to meaningful action.
Africanews with AP, Maghrebi.org
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