The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has stated that the growing global call for reparatory justice is centred on healing and restoring dignity, not financial gain.
Addressing members of the diplomatic corps in Accra on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, Mr Ablakwa dismissed suggestions that African and Caribbean leaders were pursuing reparations as a means of mobilising funds.
“There are those out there who seek to create the impression that African leaders are looking for money, that this is all just about some mobilisation for resources. That is not what this is about,” he stated.
He added that it would be inconsistent with the values of African leadership to profit from the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.
“Nobody is asking for money for leadership. Nobody is saying we will not continue to pursue our development paradigm,” he said.
Development not dependent on reparations
Mr Ablakwa pointed to ongoing national initiatives, including the Big Push, Feed Ghana and the Mahama Cares Programme, to emphasise that Ghana’s development agenda is not tied to reparatory funds.
“In Ghana, there is the Big Push, the Feed Ghana, the Mahama Cares Programme, and the many other development programmes that we continue to invest in. We’re not waiting for reparatory funds to develop our country,” Mr Ablakwa said.
He explained that the reparatory justice campaign is focused on acknowledgement, apology and restitution.
“We are asking for a process that leads to healing, that leads to closure. We are saying those who have failed to apologise, apologise, own up for your crimes,” he said.
Commendation for restitution efforts
The Minister commended the Netherlands for what he described as a commendable approach to addressing historical injustices.
“The Dutch government has been remarkable in owning up, in apologising, in voluntarily returning artefacts. We have a list they have submitted to us, another round of returns that they want to carry out. That is the kind of approach that we commend and we respect and we value,” he stated.
He also rejected claims that countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America were seeking reparations due to financial constraints.
“Let nobody make this about African leaders, Caribbean leaders, Latin American leaders running out of funds in their central banks and looking for money. That is not what this is about… you add insult to injury when those kinds of arguments are made,” he said.
Call for accountability and historical justice
Mr Ablakwa stressed that the focus of the reparatory justice campaign is on responsibility and addressing the enduring consequences of slavery, including its psychological and socio-economic impact.
He said the effort would not be derailed by opposing narratives and reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to pursuing the agenda.
“We are not going to wait for anybody. We are moving ahead. It is a moving train. You are welcome to join us, but if you do not want to join us, you are entitled to your opinion.
“History will remember and will record that when the world was moving forward, when we were righting the wrongs of history, you were not part of it and you could not be found,” Mr Ablakwa said.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh