In a move to advance coordination within the global reparations movement, the Presidential Special Envoy on Reparations, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, has held a strategic engagement with the Afri-Caribbean Exchange and Diplomacy Council (ACEDC) at Osu Castle.
The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration to address the enduring historical and developmental consequences of the transatlantic slave trade. The ACEDC delegation was led by its Founder, Mr Nathaniel Wilson, who congratulated Dr Spio-Garbrah on his appointment and underscored the importance of Africa’s leadership in shaping the global reparations agenda.
A key area of discussion was the Triangular Trade Festival of Reparation, an annual initiative designed to promote dialogue, partnership and concrete action among Africa, the Caribbean and the Americas, and Europe. Plans are currently underway to host a future edition of the Festival in Germany, reflecting a deliberate engagement with historical sites and routes linked to the transatlantic slave trade.
Mr Wilson described the Festival as a hybrid platform intended to ensure broad global participation. He noted that its central focus is the African perspective on sustainable development as an essential dimension of reparative justice, in alignment with the aspirations of the African Union.
The ACEDC also presented several ongoing initiatives, including the Berlin Reparative Legacy Scroll and efforts to establish a formal mission in Germany. In addition, the Council announced a series of international conferences scheduled for 2026, to be held in Germany in February, the Netherlands in June, and the United States later in the year.
To strengthen high-level African engagement, Mr Wilson formally invited Dr Spio-Garbrah, or a designated representative of the African Union, to deliver a keynote address at the proposed Festival in Germany.
Dr Spio-Garbrah requested that the Council submit its relevant documentation for review, including supporting materials and correspondence. Mr Wilson confirmed that these would be provided accordingly. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen collaboration and sustain dialogue in pursuit of historical justice, dignity and equitable development for Africans and peoples of African descent.
