By Staff Writer
Accra, Ghana – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. has called on the international community to move beyond symbolic recognition of the transatlantic slave trade and take meaningful steps toward reparatory justice, arguing that the effects of centuries of slavery continue to contribute to economic inequality and underdevelopment across Africa and the Global South.
Speaking Thursday at a two-day High-Level Consultative Conference in Accra, Ghana, focused on implementing United Nations Resolution A/RES/80/250, President Boakai described the global effort to address the legacy of slavery as a defining moment in the pursuit of justice.
The conference brought together African leaders, diplomats, development partners, civil society representatives, and members of the African diaspora to discuss practical pathways for advancing reparatory justice following the UN’s recognition of the trafficking and enslavement of Africans as among the gravest crimes against humanity.
Delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony, President Boakai said the consequences of the transatlantic slave trade extend well beyond historical narratives and remain evident in present-day disparities affecting African nations and people of African descent worldwide.”
There is no doubt that the slave trade and its aftermath contributed profoundly to inequality and underdevelopment in Africa and across the Global South,” Boakai said. “The past has helped shape the inequities of the present.”
The Liberian leader stressed that the adoption of the UN resolution should not be treated as merely a symbolic gesture but should serve as a foundation for substantive action aimed at addressing the lasting social, economic, and cultural impacts of slavery.
He urged governments, international organizations, and development institutions to support a broad framework for reparatory justice that includes truth-telling, reconciliation, educational reform, cultural restoration, institutional strengthening, and sustainable development partnerships.
As part of his recommendations, President Boakai proposed the creation of an African Union-United Nations Expert Commission tasked with developing a Global Reparatory Justice Mechanism. According to him, such a body would help coordinate efforts among African governments, Caribbean nations, and diaspora communities to formulate a unified position on reparations.
The President also called for the return of cultural artifacts removed from Africa during periods of colonial exploitation and emphasized the importance of investing in historical research and education to preserve an accurate account of Africa’s past.
While acknowledging that the suffering caused by slavery cannot be measured solely in monetary terms, Boakai noted that generations of forced labor, human trafficking, and resource exploitation produced immense wealth that contributed significantly to the development of many nations around the world.
He challenged the international community to match its commitments with tangible action, warning that history would judge leaders based on what they accomplish rather than the promises they make.
“Future generations will judge us not by the eloquence of our declarations, but by the courage of our actions,” he told delegates.
President Boakai further emphasized that the pursuit of reparatory justice is not intended to assign personal blame to present-day individuals. Rather, he said, it is about acknowledging historical realities, fostering understanding, and collectively addressing the enduring consequences of past injustices.
Concluding his remarks, the Liberian President urged world leaders to seize what he described as a rare opportunity to advance reconciliation and justice on a global scale. He cautioned against allowing the landmark UN resolution to become another unfulfilled commitment and called for sustained international cooperation to restore dignity and promote shared prosperity.”
Let this not be remembered as another conference or another resolution that stirred consciences briefly before fading into history,” Boakai said. “We must pursue a determined global effort to repair historical wrongs and build a future grounded in equity, shared prosperity, and our common humanity.”
The conference is expected to produce recommendations aimed at guiding future international discussions on reparations and strengthening collaboration among African nations, the Caribbean region, and the global African diaspora in pursuit of historical justice.
