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Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo called for financial reparations for Africans and the diaspora as compensation for the enslavement of people of African descent during the first day of a conference in Accra. The movement for reparations has been gaining momentum worldwide, especially in African and Caribbean countries.
Akufo-Addo emphasized that no amount of money can fully repair the damage caused by the transatlantic slave trade, but it is a matter that the world must confront and address. The four-day conference aims to produce an African-led action plan for reparatory justice and to boost collaboration with the broader diaspora.
“The entire period of slavery meant that our progress, economically, culturally, and psychologically, was stifled. There are legions of stories of families who were torn apart,” Akufo-Addo said, highlighting the need to recognize the far-reaching effects of such tragedies.
Between the 15th and 19th centuries, at least 12.5 million Africans were kidnapped and sold into slavery, enduring brutal conditions on plantations in the Americas. The United Nations report in September mentioned the possibility of financial payments as a form of compensation, but noted the complexities of legal claims due to the passage of time and the difficulties in identifying perpetrators and victims.
Akufo-Addo expressed support for the unequivocal call for reparations from Caribbean nations, emphasizing the need for solidarity and collaboration in advancing the cause. The audience included other African and Caribbean heads of state and other high-level delegates.
(Reporting by Christian Akorlie and Maxwell Akalaare Adombila; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
