Key talks will address slavery, looted artefacts, and global inequities
Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama, alongside Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and other officials, met with President Emmanuel Macron in Paris last week. The discussions centered on economic inequities, structural racism, and the return of looted artefacts. According to Ablakwa, Macron expressed openness to dialogue with a coalition of countries advocating for reparations related to transatlantic slavery.
Restitution and Legal Frameworks
An Élysée Palace official confirmed that both nations explored France’s ongoing efforts to return culturally significant objects and human remains to their countries of origin. The talks also delved into the legal frameworks governing such restitutions, although some measures, such as addressing broader economic inequities and structural racism, were not specifically mentioned by the French official.
Global Context and Ongoing Challenges
These conversations followed the United Nations’ adoption of a Ghana-led resolution recognizing slavery as the “gravest crime against humanity” and demanding reparations. France abstained from the vote, citing concerns about creating a hierarchy among crimes against humanity. Despite this, Macron reaffirmed France’s willingness for “open and honest dialogue.” France formally recognized transatlantic slavery as a crime against humanity in 2001 but, like many European countries, has not apologized or committed to reparations. Calls for reparations continue to gain momentum globally, though there remains significant opposition from critics who argue that modern states should not be held accountable for historical injustices.
