“Historic” Reparations Progress at Accra Conference
Speaking from the airport in Accra, Ghana, the former Prime Minister of St. Vincent expressed high spirits and a renewed determination in the global struggle for reparations following a landmark conference led by Ghanaian President John Mahama.
The former leader highlighted the success of the “Next Steps” conference, which built upon a historic United Nations resolution passed on March 25, 2026. The UN resolution, which saw opposition from only three countries, officially recognized the trade in enslaved African bodies and chattel slavery as “the greatest crime against humanity”.
A major outcome of the Accra gathering was a comprehensive declaration document that incorporated the CARICOM 10-point plan for reparations—a framework the speaker noted he helped develop during his tenure as prime minister. He emphasized that the work is ongoing, with a newly revised 10-point plan now in place to guide future efforts. The global repair campaign continues to actively support CARICOM and the African Union in demanding justice for native genocide and the enslavement of African people.
Standing before a “Black Star” backdrop at the airport, the former prime minister reflected on the symbol’s deep historical and pan-African significance, tracing its origins from Marcus Garvey’s Black Star Line in Jamaica to its adoption into the Ghanaian flag by the founder of independent Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah.
He also touched upon the cultural backdrop of the event, noting the World Cup fever currently sweeping through Ghana. After the Ghanaian national team’s initial victory, he expressed hope that they would pull off an “uphill battle” to defeat England in their upcoming Tuesday match, while also pointing out the “hypocrisy” surrounding the tournament being held in the United States.
Departing Ghana with a “renewed spirit to continue the fight against imperialism,” he thanked the Ghanaian government and its people for their hospitality and for successfully hosting a conference that he believes has elevated the reparations struggle to a “higher level”.
