ACCRA
African and Caribbean leaders used a high-level conference in Ghana to push for concrete action on reparatory justice, arguing that a landmark United Nations resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as one of humanity’s gravest crimes must be followed by measures aimed at addressing its enduring consequences.
The gathering in Accra brought together heads of state, government officials, legal experts and representatives of the African diaspora to discuss the implementation of U.N. General Assembly Resolution A/RES/80/250, adopted in March 2026.
The resolution, spearheaded by Ghana, describes the transatlantic slave trade as the “gravest crime against humanity” and calls for reparations.
It was approved by 123 countries, while Argentina, Israel and the United States voted against it and 52 countries abstained.
Opening the conference, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama said the international community must move beyond acknowledging historical injustices and begin pursuing “meaningful action, truth-telling, and reconciliation.”
He announced plans to establish three international panels focused on reparatory justice, restitution of cultural artifacts and legal pathways for redress.
Mahama said the effects of the transatlantic slave trade continue to shape institutions and inequalities generations later.
While current generations did not commit the atrocities of slavery, he said, they share a responsibility to address its lasting consequences through dialogue, remembrance and justice.
The conference highlighted growing efforts by African and Caribbean nations to develop a common position on reparations, an issue that has gained momentum in international forums yet remains politically contentious.
More Than Symbolic
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye described the U.N. resolution as a significant advance but cautioned against allowing it to remain symbolic.
He said reparatory justice should be viewed as a moral and historical imperative aimed at building a more balanced and humane international order rather than as a process directed against any particular nation or people.
Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah linked the debate over reparations for slavery to broader African demands for historical accountability.
She pointed to Namibia’s own pursuit of justice over the genocide committed against the Ovaherero and Nama communities during German colonial rule, describing it as part of a wider struggle for recognition and redress.
Calling for unity among Africans and the diaspora, Nandi-Ndaitwah said genuine reconciliation depends on acknowledging historical truths and restoring dignity to those affected by past injustices.
Liberian President Joseph Boakai pressed for what he called action beyond symbolism, arguing that the economic and developmental challenges facing many African countries remain connected to the legacy of slavery and colonial exploitation.
He proposed creating an African Union-United Nations expert commission to design a global reparatory justice mechanism and called for stronger cooperation among African governments, Caribbean nations and diaspora organizations.
Boakai also advocated the return of cultural artifacts and greater investment in research and education about the slave trade, saying centuries of forced labor and resource extraction generated wealth that helped build economies elsewhere while leaving lasting damage across Africa and the Global South.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley said the issue carries particular significance for her country because Barbados’ colonial legislature enacted the 1661 Slave Code, legislation that helped institutionalize slavery by treating Africans as property.
She said reparatory justice is ultimately about repair, healing and unity between Africa and its diaspora.
The conference drew leaders from across Africa and the Caribbean, including the presidents of Senegal, Namibia, Liberia and São Tomé and Príncipe, as well as senior representatives from more than 80 countries.
