France and Ghana Open New Talks on Slavery Reparations and Stolen Artefacts
Ghana says France is now open to discussions on slavery reparations following high-level talks between President John Dramani Mahama and French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
The meeting, which also involved Ghana’s foreign minister, signals a possible shift in how France engages with long standing demands linked to the transatlantic slave trade and its lasting impact.
According to Ghana’s foreign minister, France showed readiness to discuss a wider set of issues, including reparations, the return of cultural artefacts taken during the colonial era, and concerns about global inequality and racial injustice.
Officials from the French presidency confirmed that both countries discussed the return of cultural objects and human remains, as well as the legal processes involved in such restitutions. However, France did not publicly confirm wider commitments beyond cultural returns.
The talks come shortly after the United Nations passed a Ghana led resolution describing slavery as one of the worst crimes against humanity and calling for global discussions on reparations. France and several European countries did not support the resolution.
Although France recognised slavery as a crime against humanity in 2001, it has not issued a formal apology or agreed to reparations for its role in the slave trade.
The renewed discussions highlight growing global pressure for historical accountability, even as some countries continue to argue over whether modern states should be responsible for past actions.
From the 15th to 19th century, millions of Africans were forcibly taken through the transatlantic slave trade, with France responsible for a significant share of that history, according to historical databases.
The latest meeting suggests that while full agreement is still far off, diplomatic conversations on reparations and restitution are now more openly taking place between France and African nations.
