‘Ghana was the crime scene’ – the country leading the demand for slavery reparations
The demand for formal apologies, debt relief and financial compensation from nations and institutions that benefited from slavery has become increasingly forceful.
Ghana has emerged as the global leader in advocating for reparations related to the transatlantic slave trade. In March, a UN resolution recognizing slavery as "the greatest crime against humanity" was passed, though the United States voted against it and every European nation abstained. Ghana, which was once a major hub for the slave trade, proposed this resolution and is now spearheading global efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.
The country's Foreign Minister, Samuel Okuzeto Ablakwa, emphasizes that Ghana was the "crime scene" where atrocities took place, and its leaders are committed to ensuring justice is served. The country's emphasis includes educational grants, venture capital for young entrepreneurs, and research into lasting health issues linked to enslavement.
The Church of England, which profited from the slave trade in the 18th century, is also under scrutiny, with plans for a £100m social impact fund. Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally visited Ghana and Cape Coast Castle, where she prayed and expressed deep emotion over the slave trade's horrors. Despite some African complicity in the slave trade, Ghana's minister rejects this narrative, emphasizing that Western slave-owning powers were the primary architects of the atrocity.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
