African Reparations summit agrees to establish fund to compensate for slave trade

Delegates from African countries attending a reparations summit in Ghana on November 16 reached an agreement to establish a Global Reparation Fund, aiming to advocate for long-awaited compensation for millions of Africans who were enslaved centuries ago during the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

As reported by the African News portal, the Accra Reparation Conference adds its voice to the increasing calls for reparations, stemming from the historical forced enslavement of about 12 million Africans by European nations between the 16th and 19th centuries. These individuals were subjected to brutal conditions on plantations that generated wealth at the cost of immense suffering.

Despite the conclusion of the slave trade centuries ago, people of African descent worldwide still face "systemic racial discrimination and racialized attacks", as highlighted in a recent report by a special UN forum. The report emphasized reparations as a crucial element of justice in the 21st century.

Ghana's President, Nana Addo Akufo-Addo, addressed the conference, saying “It is time for Africa — whose sons and daughters had their freedoms controlled and sold into slavery — to also receive reparations”, calling out the British and other European nations who enriched themselves during the slave trade.

Activists involved in the reparations movement argue that compensation should extend beyond direct financial payments. They advocate for additional measures such as developmental aid for affected countries, the return of colonized resources, and the systematic correction of oppressive policies and laws.