Ghana hosts global conference on slavery reparations, seeking practical commitments for justice
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Ghana recently hosted a global conference aimed at translating growing political support for slavery reparations into practical commitments for justice. This initiative follows the United Nations' adoption of a resolution in March that recognized the transatlantic slave trade as "the gravest crime against humanity." Ghana's Foreign Minister Samuel Ablakwa stated that the campaign for reparatory justice has gained "unprecedented momentum" since the resolution's adoption. The resolution, pushed by Ghanaian President John Mahama, encourages nations involved in the slave trade to engage in restorative justice. Ablakwa expressed confidence that the battle against reparatory injustice would be won, similar to past victories against slavery, colonialism, and apartheid. The UN resolution received support from 123 member states, marking a significant international endorsement for reparations. Recent developments include French President Emmanuel Macron's endorsement of the symbolic repeal of royal decrees governing slavery in French colonies, and Pope Leo XIV's apology for the Catholic Church's delayed condemnation of slavery. Ghana, once a hub of transatlantic slavery, is now transitioning to a "sanctuary for healing and reparative justice" and has been active in connecting the diaspora to Africa. The conference featured leaders from Barbados, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Namibia, and Liberia, as well as Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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