Key facts
- Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally reaffirmed commitment to a £100 million fund for reparations related to the transatlantic slave trade.
- Mullally visited Cape Coast Castle in Ghana, a significant historical site of the slave trade.
- The fund is intended for investment, research, and engagement in communities affected by slavery.
- The Church of England has acknowledged its historical involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.
- Ghana is leading a global campaign for reparative justice.
Archbishop of Canterbury Dame Sarah Mullally has reaffirmed her commitment to a £100 million fund established by the Church of England to address its historical role in the transatlantic slave trade. During a visit to Cape Coast Castle in Ghana, a significant site in the history of the slave trade, Mullally expressed deep emotion over the horrific conditions and treatment of enslaved Africans.
Mullally acknowledged the Church's part in the slave trade, stating that repentance requires action. The fund is designated for "a programme of investment, research and engagement" in communities that bear the legacy of enslavement. The Church of England's historical ties to the slave trade include its missionary arm operating slave-farmed plantations in the Caribbean and receiving funds from slave traders.
Ghana has been actively campaigning for reparations from institutions and nations that benefited from the slave trade. The archbishop’s visit comes three years after her predecessor, Justin Welby, formally apologised for the church’s role. Despite the commitment, the fund has faced criticism, with some arguing the amount is insufficient and others urging the church to spend the money on clergy wages. However, Mullally reaffirmed her commitment, stating that action is part of Christian repentance.