UN Resolution abolishes colonial property laws on enslaved Africans

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced that France's historic Code Noir, which classified enslaved Africans as property, has been repealed as part of ongoing international reparatory justice efforts under the United Nations Resolution programme on enslaved Africans.

Speaking at a high-level consultative conference on ‘Next Steps’ under the UN Resolution on Enslaved Africans in Accra on June 18, 2026, Ablakwa described the repeal as a major milestone in efforts to address historical injustices stemming from the transatlantic slave trade.

Describing the legislation as deeply inhumane, Ablakwa said it classified Africans as commodities and movable property and allowed slave owners to inflict severe punishments on enslaved persons without legal consequences.

"It was not treated as a criminal offence, and it is deeply shocking that it remained on the statute books of France for centuries. But thanks to our resolution and the work we are doing, the Code Noir no longer exists and has now been repealed," he said.

According to him, the UN resolution is delivering concrete outcomes beyond diplomatic engagements.

He noted that the European Union has signalled its willingness to work with Ghana on reparatory justice mechanisms.

What to know about the historic reparations summit in Accra

He also disclosed that the governments of Germany and the Netherlands have expressed readiness to support the return of cultural artefacts to Africa.

Ablakwa said the developments reflect a broader international shift towards historical accountability and restitution for the injustices of slavery.

The high-level consultative conference is aimed at addressing the enduring legacy and consequences of the transatlantic slave trade.

It brought together key stakeholders, including the presidents of Namibia, Senegal, Liberia and France, underscoring a shared commitment to advancing reparatory justice for the descendants of enslaved Africans.

The Code Noir, a 1685 French royal decree, set out regulations governing the treatment of enslaved Africans in French colonies and remained on France's statute books for centuries.

MRA/VPO

All President Mahama's ministers must go! - Lawyer Maurice Ampaw