African and Caribbean Nations Demand Formal Apology and Reparations for Transatlantic Slave Trade

Accra. African and Caribbean nations have formally demanded that powerful nations that benefited from the transatlantic slave trade apologize and pay reparations. This demand has been put forward with the aim of advancing the campaign for reparative justice following the conclusion of the three-day 'Next Steps' conference held in Accra, the capital of Ghana.

Earlier in March, the United Nations passed a historic resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as 'the most serious crime against humanity.' The resolution also urged member states to contribute to a reparations fund. It is a historical fact that between the 15th and 19th centuries, approximately 12 to 15 million African men, women, and children were forcibly captured and trafficked to America to be enslaved.