Addressing Directors and Heads of Agencies under the Ministry, Ambassador Garbrah expressed appreciation for their engagement and underscored that the Ministry’s oversight of 13 agencies places it at the heart of reparations-related work. He noted that Ghana currently serves as the African Union Champion for Reparations, a mandate inherited by President John Dramani Mahama following an African Union decision, alongside other continental initiatives such as gender equity and African financial and institutional reforms.
He stated that reparations must be rooted in tourism, culture, heritage and the creative economy, noting that the Office of Global Reparations now operates from Osu Castle, a historic site linked to Ghana’s colonial past and the transatlantic slave trade. He further underscored that reparations is a long-term continental agenda, with the African Union declaring a Decade of Reparations, and stressed that the effort goes beyond financial compensation to include formal apologies, artefact restitution, development partnerships and institutional reforms.
As part of early proposals, he revealed plans to mobilise at least US$100 million for the rehabilitation of Ghana’s forts and castles and expressed confidence that the funds could be raised through innovative, tourism- and culture-driven financing models, with the ambition of positioning the Office of Global Reparations as a revenue-generating institution that complements government resources.
Citing global precedents, Ambassador Garbrah referenced global reparations efforts in the Caribbean and Germany’s commitments related to atrocities in Namibia, as well as the growing push for the return of African artefacts from Western museums. He noted that properly exhibiting returned artefacts in Ghana’s museums, forts and castles would boost tourism, education and diaspora reconciliation, and urged the Ministry and its agencies to develop multidisciplinary programmes aligned with the reparations agenda.
Responding on behalf of the Ministry, Deputy Minister, Hon. Yussif Issaka Jahjah welcomed the engagement and commended the focus on rehabilitating forts and castles. He recalled that between 2022 and 2023, UNESCO raised concerns about the deteriorating condition of these heritage sites and warned of possible delisting if urgent interventions were not undertaken.
He disclosed that although Ghana has about 62 forts and castles along the Gulf of Guinea, 32 of them in Ghana, with 28 recognised as heritage sites, many remain in poor condition. He noted that while a previous government initiative to rehabilitate six forts and castles had commenced, funding constraints stalled progress after contractors were mobilised. The Ministry, he assured, is ready to partner with the Office of Global Reparations to mobilise resources, preserve national heritage, and strengthen tourism, with agency heads prepared to provide technical support and formal proposals.
Agency heads, during the open forum
proposed integrating reparations with tourism and cultural development through curated heritage experiences, language revitalisation and artefact restitution. They raised concerns over deteriorating forts and castles, funding shortfalls and unfulfilled restoration pledges, while clarifying that repatriation of looted items and ancestral remains is essential to the broader reparations agenda.
Participants emphasised the need for sustained financing, stronger coordination and credible historical scholarship to protect Ghana’s heritage and advance restitution efforts.
Source : Delassie M. Awuku – PR Unit – MoTCCA.
