Why the slavery reform conference in Accra is news | Stories of Slavery

The conference on slavery and restorative justice that was held in the capital of Ghana last week is still happening across Africa and the Caribbean, sparking international debates about history, revenge and inequality.

At Christianborg Castle, also known as Osu Castle, a famous fortress overlooking the Atlantic Ocean that once served as a slave for Africans before they were sent across the Atlantic, actors and students re-enacted the events of the slave trade, taking part in the journey made by millions of African men, women and children.

The three-day conference on “Consequences” brought together world leaders, policymakers, academics, legal experts, civil society groups and representatives of African countries to discuss the long-term consequences of the Atlantic slave trade and ways to promote restorative justice.

The meeting took place a few months after the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution recognizing the trafficking of Africans as a form of racial slavery as one of the worst crimes against humanity. The resolution, supported by 123 countries, was the first in the history of the UN to deal with slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.

The Accra conference created a 19-point agenda that calls for an apology from countries and organizations that benefited from slavery, the creation of reparations, the restoration of cultural artifacts and human remains, debt reduction, education and strong international cooperation.

“The lasting effects of slavery continue to be evident due to structural inequality, economic disparity, model discrimination, social exclusion and development problems,” said the statement of the results of the meeting.

“The Accra conference on restorative justice was not an end in itself but an important milestone in a long journey,” Nana Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin, head of the African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP), told Al Jazeera.

“It reminded us that the legacy of slavery was not just history, but its devastating effects continue to create a gap in today’s economy, development, and access to economic systems around the world,” said Benjamin.

“However, for these discussions to turn into meaningful change, Africa must also prepare its own measures to welcome and protect the diaspora and businesses that invite them home.

“The advice from Accra must now be aligned with the changes in the administration,” he added.

An expert on political and security risks in the Sahel, Mubarak Aliyu, told Al Jazeera that “The Accra conference is reviving the important question of financial restitution, the recovery of stolen antiquities, and the education of Africans on the dangers of the Atlantic slave trade.”

Call for response

Among the countries most mentioned in the reparations debate are Portugal, Britain, France, Spain and the Netherlands, all of which played a major role in the transatlantic slave trade. Historians estimate that Portugal transported more slaves to Africa across the Atlantic than any other European power, accounting for nearly two-fifths of the trade, while Britain became a major power in the 18th century. France, Spain, and the Netherlands also benefited greatly from the slave trade and the plantation economy of America.

The call for reparations has increased significantly in recent years, especially among African countries and the countries of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), which have developed a program of reparations that includes apologies, development assistance, debt reduction and programs aimed at overcoming the long-term legacy of slavery and colonialism.

The responses of the former colonial countries have been mixed. The Dutch government apologized in 2022 for the Netherlands’ role in slavery. France recognized slavery as a crime against humanity in 2001. Britain has expressed regret for its actions in the slave trade but has not taken any action in retaliation. Although several European governments acknowledge the injustice of the history of slavery, they often stopped short of accepting monetary compensation.

French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at the conference with a video message, acknowledged the long history of slavery and said that revenge must be part of a continuous process of awareness and action.

Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama said the meeting sought to move the conflict away from symbolism and into action. He announced the creation of three international organizations that focus on restorative justice, cultural restoration and legal issues to help advance the process.

Aliyu also told Al Jazeera that “Although meetings like this are not new, they show the efforts of African governments to demand accountability as a precursor to bigger things that need to be repaid.”

A lasting legacy

Proponents argue that the legacy of slavery is more than just history. Many scholars, human rights activists and policy makers argue that decades of slavery, colonialism and brutality continue to create economic opportunities, development and opportunity in Africa as a whole and in African countries.

The main debate that took place at the conference was that the inequality that comes from slavery and colonialism continues to affect the economic systems of the world today. Supporters say that this legacy is reflected in the continuing gaps in wealth, income, development outcomes and access to international funds.

The meeting also showed the growing cooperation between African and Caribbean countries, which are increasingly coordinating their roles to promote the call for justice and reform in the world. Supporters see this coordination as a way to give political power to demands that have often struggled to achieve global success.

From declaration to action

However, major problems remain. There is no international agreement on what restitution should look like in practice, with ideas ranging from financial compensation and debt repayment to social compensation, education funding and institutional reform.

Some observers say the Accra conference helped restore justice in international politics following the UN resolution. Others feel that translating the proposals into policy will require overcoming political resistance, legal hurdles and questions about implementation.

Civil society groups, historians and international organizations continue to campaign for cultural restoration, educational reform and rehabilitation. For many of them, meetings like the Accra meeting are important not only for developing policy ideas but also for making the issue visible to the world.

For campaigners, however, the conference was not designed as a one-off event. Instead, they see it as part of a long-term effort to gain recognition of past wrongs, encourage acceptance of responsibility, and build international support for measures aimed at ending the lasting effects of slavery.

As the delegation left Accra, the message was clear: the debate over slavery, responsibility and retributive justice is far from over.