Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has called for sustained cooperation and shared commitment in addressing issues linked to reparatory justice and historical memory.
Speaking at the Next Step High-Level Consultative Conference held in Ghana, he said progress in the area depends on partnerships and a common understanding among stakeholders.
“Success will require partnerships, shared understanding and sustained commitment,” he said.
He noted that Ghana’s hosting of the conference was significant, referencing the country’s historical connection to the transatlantic enslavement period.
“It is therefore fitting that this conference is being held in Ghana,” he stated.
Ablakwa added that Ghana has several forts and castles linked to that period, which he said remain part of its historical record.
“For centuries Ghana was held as the headquarters of the transatlantic enslavement. That is why Ghana hosts the highest number of forts and castles than any other country,” he said.
He explained that the country is now focusing on a different direction involving dialogue on reparatory justice and related initiatives.
“But today Ghana is transitioning from being a crime scene to a sanctuary for healing and reparatory justice,” he added.
The conference brought together stakeholders to discuss cooperation on historical justice and related policy frameworks.
