Following a meeting between President John Dramani Mahama and France’s Emmanuel Macron in Paris, Ghanaian officials say France has signaled openness to talks on reparations. While France abstained from a recent UN resolution led by Ghana recognizing slavery as a crime against humanity, officials say Macron is open to “honest dialogue” on the issue. Ghana is pushing for a reparations framework that includes artifact restitution, addressing economic inequalities, and tackling systemic racism. Paris has publicly acknowledged that conversations around cultural restitution took place; however, it stopped short of confirming the broader commitments Ghana described. Although France acknowledged slavery as a crime in 2001, it has yet to issue a formal apology or commit to reparations. As global calls for justice grow louder, the conversation is increasingly shaping diplomatic and historical accountability debates.
Reuters
