‘From Ghana to Bristol’: University of Bristol's Brigstow Institute Reparative Justice Fellowship Project underway in Ghana

A University of Bristol Brigstow Institute funded project titled ‘From Ghana to Bristol’ which seeks to reimagine reparative justice in a postcolonial world began its first leg in Ghana's capital of Accra on the 13^th of February 2025. The project which is still ongoing explores how reparative justice can evolve within an environmental context by using indigenous output to challenge hierarchical structures .

It is led by a research team from Bristol involving Emmanuella Morsi, Iman Sultan West, Dr. Edson Burton and Chantel Akworkor Thompson. The forum facilitated by DēpART Consultancy invited some Ghanaian cultural leaders and creatives uniquely positioned to contribute to the project which aims to tackle global challenges while strengthening cultural ties between Ghana and Bristol.

One of the recorded sessions also featured an insightful dialogue between Bristol based writer and history lecturer Dr. Edson Burton and Ghanaian writer and artist Seyram Agbleze that highlighted the need to address systemic frailties that perpetuate inequality. With that session relating to restorative indigenous textile practices, their discussion shed light on the need to strengthen local capacity. Drawing reference to the past when unfair competition from European powers led to the collapse of a thriving indigenous textile industry back then which undermined capacity locally and also had economic ramifications.

The Accra leg of the From Ghana to Bristol project involved visits to Edan- a session led by Carina Tenewaa Kanbi, Studio One Eighty Nine, Yaye Africa and Afroscope Studio while exploring sustainability practices as a form of reparative justice. With a focus on how local initiatives in Ghana are addressing colonial legacies and promoting socio-economic regeneration through ethical business models, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship. The second leg of the project will involve Odo Valley, SCCA Tamale, Limbo Museum amongst others.

The reparative justice project comes off at a time when calls for reparative justice are on the rise on the continent with the African Union last week as well in its 35^th session calling for action to realize continental reparations. Ghana’s president Mahama speaking at the AU summit said that the AU's decision underscores Africa’s collective commitment to addressing the historical injustices.