Go to Akufo-Addo for education on reparative justice – Ablakwa to Afenyo-Markin

Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has urged Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to seek guidance on reparative justice from former President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Addressing an event on Tuesday, Mr Ablakwa delivered a pointed response to recent comments by Mr Afenyo-Markin on the issue of reparations, insisting that the former president remains a credible authority on the subject.

“I will have only one message for the Minority Leader in Ghana. He should visit the leader of his party, former President His Excellency, Nana Akufo-Addo,” Mr Ablakwa said.

“He has been a strong advocate for reparative justice. He should pay him a visit.”

He went further to suggest that the Effutu MP take advantage of the upcoming Easter period to deepen his understanding.

“He should go during the Easter break. He should sit with him and let former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo educate him on reparatory justice,” he stated. “I think it will do him a world of good before his next pronouncement in Parliament.”

The comments come in the wake of a controversial position taken by Mr Afenyo-Markin last week, where he challenged prevailing narratives surrounding reparations for transatlantic slavery.

He argued that discussions on compensation must also confront the role played by some African communities in the slave trade.

“When somebody berths a vessel at Cape Coast, and you decide to go to the North, Bono area, get to the Ashanti area, and to the Assin area, and you are chasing your strongest among your own people, then after 100 years, you say, ‘I should be compensated’,” Mr Afenyo-Markin remarked.

His comments have sparked debate, with critics accusing him of downplaying the responsibility of Western powers in the transatlantic slave trade.

The discussion has gained renewed global attention following a recent resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.

The Ghana-backed measure recognises transatlantic slavery as the gravest crime against humanity and calls for dialogue on reparations, apologies, and compensation.

Although not legally binding, the resolution is seen as a significant step in advancing international conversations on historical accountability, even as it faced opposition from the United States and several European nations.