Ghana Renews Call for Slavery Reparations

Ghana has commemorated Juneteenth with renewed calls for reparatory justice for descendants of enslaved Africans.

The event was held at Christiansborg Castle in Accra and coincided with a three-day international conference on the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.Organisers said the meeting followed a recent United Nations resolution recognising the transatlantic slave trade as a major crime against humanity.

Political leaders, academics, activists and representatives of African diaspora communities attended the conference.

A reenactment showing the experience of enslaved Africans before forced departure across the Atlantic formed part of the ceremony.Participants called for measures to address historical injustices, including reparatory justice and stronger international cooperation.

Discussions also covered historical memory, education and deeper engagement between Africa and diaspora communities. President John Dramani Mahama said the commemoration celebrated the resilience and contributions of descendants of enslaved Africans around the world.

Ghana has promoted heritage and cultural initiatives aimed at reconnecting African diaspora communities with the continent. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the conference adopted recommendations to support further work on reparatory justice.

The meeting also welcomed plans by the Dutch government to return thousands of cultural artefacts to Ghana.

It was not immediately clear when the conference recommendations would be implemented.

Ghana has several forts and castles linked to the transatlantic slave trade.