The Ghana slavery reparations conference opened on Thursday with world leaders, policymakers, activists and scholars gathering to advance the global campaign for reparatory justice and transform political support into concrete action.
The event comes months after the United Nations adopted a landmark resolution recognising the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity.” The resolution, championed by Ghanaian President John Mahama and supported by 123 UN member states, calls on countries involved in the slave trade to engage in restorative and reparatory justice efforts.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Ghana slavery reparations conference, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Ablakwa said the global movement for reparations has gained unprecedented momentum since the UN resolution was passed.
According to Ablakwa, the fight for reparatory justice follows earlier struggles that successfully challenged slavery, colonialism and apartheid. He expressed confidence that efforts to secure justice for descendants of enslaved Africans would eventually succeed.
The conference is focused on developing practical pathways for addressing the historical and lasting impact of slavery on African societies and people of African descent worldwide. Discussions include economic justice, cultural restoration, historical recognition and strengthening ties between Africa and the global African diaspora.
Recent international developments have added momentum to the reparations movement. French President Emmanuel Macron has supported the symbolic repeal of slavery-era decrees, while Pope Leo XIV recently apologised for the Catholic Church’s delayed condemnation of slavery.
The Ghana slavery reparations conference also highlights Ghana’s efforts to reconnect with the African diaspora. In recent years, more than 1,000 people of African descent have obtained Ghanaian citizenship through initiatives aimed at strengthening historical and cultural ties.
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The three-day gathering features leaders from Barbados, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Namibia and Liberia, alongside renowned Nigerian author and activist Wole Soyinka.
Officials say the conference marks another important step in the global push for justice, healing and meaningful reparations for the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.
