Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang calls for deeper reflection on slave trade, African resistance and reparative justice

Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called for renewed efforts to preserve the history of the transatlantic slave trade while deepening conversations on African resistance, resilience and reparative justice.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang made the call when she joined the Oguaamanhen, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, at the Cape Coast Castle for a memorial event and public lecture on the transatlantic slave trade.

The event was supported by His Royal Majesty Jira Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, Overlord of Gonja, and His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, the Ga Mantse.

The memorial event comes against the backdrop of the United Nations’ historic recognition of the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans as the gravest crime against humanity, an international effort Ghana played a leading role in advancing.

According to the Vice President, it is important for present and future generations to fully understand the scale and consequences of the transatlantic slave trade, which resulted in the destruction of communities, loss of lives and far-reaching social, cultural and economic consequences that continue to influence societies today.

She, however, stressed that the history of the slave trade must not portray Africans solely as passive victims.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said equal attention must be given to the history of African resistance, resilience and agency, noting that communities across the continent, including those in present-day Ghana, resisted enslavement in various ways.

“Our ancestors resisted enslavement in different ways. They were never simply passive victims of history,” she emphasised.

She further highlighted the importance of Ghana's relationship with the African diaspora, particularly because the country remains home to some of the most significant surviving sites associated with the transatlantic slave trade.

She said Ghana therefore has a responsibility to preserve these historical sites and ensure that the stories connected to them are accurately documented and passed on to future generations.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also called for sustained international discussions on reparative justice.

While acknowledging that centuries of injustice cannot be reversed, she said recognition of the historical wrongs could create a shared understanding and provide a foundation for meaningful conversations on accountability, justice and the way forward.

The unveiling of a commemorative plaque at the Cape Coast Castle, she noted, should serve as a renewed commitment to preserving the truth about the past, educating future generations and strengthening the bonds between Africa and its diaspora.

She stressed that remembering the past must go beyond acknowledging suffering to also recognising resistance, resilience and the continuing consequences of the transatlantic slave trade.

According to the Vice President, society owes the past remembrance and owes future generations an honest account of the suffering, resistance and consequences associated with one of the darkest chapters in human history.