Ghana Advocates for Slavery Reparations at Global Conference

Ghana held a landmark global conference on slavery reparations, led by Foreign Minister Samuel Ablakwa, who emphasized the need for nations involved in the transatlantic slave trade to engage in restorative justice. The conference coincided with the United Nations' adoption of a non-binding resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as one of the gravest crimes against humanity.

Ghanaian President John Mahama called for actions beyond mere acknowledgment of the past. The resolution received support from 123 UN member states, with French President Emmanuel Macron endorsing a symbolic repeal of royal decrees governing slavery in French colonies.

The conference featured leaders from various nations, including Barbados, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Namibia, and Liberia, alongside Nigerian Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka. Ablakwa noted Ghana's role as a hub for transatlantic slavery discussions and the growing international support for reparatory justice.