ACCRA – African and Caribbean nations have adopted a joint 19-point reparations plan calling for formal apologies, financial compensation and debt relief from countries that benefited from the trans-Atlantic slave trade and slavery.
The plan was approved at the conclusion of a three-day conference in Accra, Ghana, attended by representatives of the African Union (AU), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), heads of government, legal experts and advocates for reparatory justice. The initiative marks one of the strongest coordinated efforts yet by African and Caribbean nations to seek redress for the lasting consequences of slavery and colonialism.
The framework calls on governments, institutions and organizations that profited from slavery to issue formal and unconditional apologies. It also seeks financial compensation, debt cancellation for affected countries, the return of looted cultural artifacts and ancestral remains, and reforms to international financial institutions to provide greater representation for developing nations.
Other proposals include the establishment of a Global Reparations Fund, climate justice financing and measures to address the specific harms suffered by African women and girls during slavery. The plan also encourages African countries to create pathways to citizenship for members of the African diaspora and to preserve former slave forts and castles as memorial sites.
The initiative follows a landmark resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in March 2026, which recognized the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the enslavement of Africans as among the gravest crimes against humanity. The resolution was sponsored by Ghana on behalf of African states and received the support of 123 countries, although several Western nations either opposed or abstained from the vote.
Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama told conference participants that while current generations are not personally responsible for the atrocities committed centuries ago, they do carry a responsibility to address the enduring consequences of those crimes. He argued that the economic and social effects of slavery continue to contribute to inequality, poverty and underdevelopment in many parts of Africa and the Caribbean.
The conference also highlighted the growing partnership between the African Union and CARICOM on reparatory justice. CARICOM has long advocated for reparations through its Reparations Commission and Ten-Point Plan for Reparatory Justice, while African leaders have increasingly coordinated their efforts through the African Union.
The newly adopted 19-point framework is expected to be presented later this year at the United Nations General Assembly, where African and Caribbean nations hope to build further international support for their campaign.
For many Caribbean countries, including those within the former Dutch, British and French colonial spheres, the debate over reparations remains a significant political issue. Advocates argue that reparatory justice is not solely about financial compensation but also about addressing historical inequalities, restoring cultural heritage and creating opportunities for long-term development.