Private legal practitioner Oliver Barker-Vormawor has clarified that the reparations resolution tabled by Ghana and adopted by the United Nations is not primarily about financial compensation, but rather about historical justice, restitution, and knowledge development.
Speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV on Saturday, March 28, Barker-Vormawor stressed that the resolution centres on acknowledging historical truth and addressing the long-term legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, rather than focusing on monetary payouts.
He explained that while slavery involved the monetisation of human lives, framing reparations mainly in financial terms risks reinforcing that same logic, making cash compensation only a secondary aspect of the resolution.
According to him, key priorities under the resolution include the return of African artefacts held in Western institutions, investment in education, and expanded research into the historical and global impact of slavery.
He noted that the restitution of such artefacts is a critical component of meaningful reparations.
“If you look at the resolution, and I think so many people have not paid attention to it, the question of compensation is very underemphasized in the resolution. Because one of the things that has been clear in terms of our negotiations has been that the transatlantic slave trade was about the monetisation of human lives.
“We cannot lead the global conversation around reparations with a monetised conversation around this. So that’s not the key focus of this conversation,” he said
Barker-Vormawor added that the resolution also seeks to deepen global understanding of how the slave trade continues to shape international relations today.
“if you look at most of what the conversation has been, it’s taking stock, it’s building our research and knowledge around this, and also being able to understand how this affects global relations” he added.
The resolution, presented on Wednesday, March 25 by Ghana, calls for renewed global commitment to reparative justice for African nations and descendants of enslaved people. It urges member states to engage in structured dialogue and take concrete steps to address the enduring social, economic, and cultural consequences of slavery.
Following extensive deliberations, the motion was adopted with 123 votes in favour, while the United States, Argentina, and Israel voted against, and 52 countries abstained.
The United States described the resolution as “highly problematic,” acknowledging the historical injustice of slavery but raising concerns about the intended beneficiaries of reparations.
