Ghana is hosting a global summit bringing African leaders and the diaspora together to confront the legacy of slavery and colonialism.
As calls grow for reparations and economic justice, organizers say the diaspora could play a key role in Africa’s future.

Accra

The Ghana Diaspora Summit in Accra has brought together thousands of delegates to discuss the enduring impact of the transatlantic slave trade and the need for reparations. The event highlights efforts by Ghana and other African governments to engage with their diaspora, encouraging investment and expertise to support national development.

Participants at the summit are advocating for legal and international mechanisms to advance reparative justice. The discussions also address the importance of fairer global trade and how these debates are influencing Africa's economic future.

Ghana diaspora summit: Calls for reparations and fairer global trade

The legacy of the transatlantic slave trade still shapes lives across generations. Centuries after it ended, people whose ancestors were taken from what's now Ghana are travelling back, some as visitors, others to resettle. We can live here. They don't have to worry about the colour of their skin, someone looking at them differently because of this, this beautifulness that he possessed. He's a threat as a male at three years old. Here he's a friend, he's a brother, he's a cousin. Ghana was once a major departure point for millions of Africans who were forcibly transported across the Atlantic. Along the country's coastline, former slave forts remain as historical sites. George Brown is visiting from the United States. His ancestors were taken from this region. When you live in America as a black man, there's a lot of stresses that's built into the system and those stresses are not here. Here you can freely feel free, walk free, think free, act free. As anti-immigrant sentiment increases in parts of the United States and Europe, several African governments are encouraging engagement with people of African descent abroad. Ghana has formally designated its diaspora as the country's 17th region, with the aim of channeling skills, investment and expertise towards national development. Thousands of delegates have gathered in the capital Accra for this year's Diaspora Summit, focusing on accountability for the slave trade, reparations and economic development. We demand the establishment of legal, institutional and international mechanisms to advance reparative justice. The summit reflects how those debates are increasingly shaping discussions about Africa's economic future. Victoria Gatenby, Al Jazeera.

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