Archbishop Sarah Mullally of Canterbury wrapped up a 10-day visit to West and Central Africa, during which she reinforced the Church of England’s dedication to a reparations initiative addressing the institution’s historical involvement in the slave trade.
Mullally visited Ghana from July 26-31 and Cameroon from July 31 through August 4, marking her first trip to Africa since her installation as archbishop in March and her inaugural visit to Cameroon in that capacity. In Ghana, she visited Cape Coast Castle, a significant slave fort, where she defended the church’s 100 million pound reparations fund announced in January 2023. The fund was established following an independent audit that documented the Church of England’s extensive connections to slavery, including investments in slave-trading enterprises, operation of slave plantations in the Caribbean, and receipt of donations from slave traders. Mullally toured the dungeons and walked through structures associated with the forced transport of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic.
The archbishop concluded her tour in Cameroon with messages emphasizing peace and reconciliation. She called for dialogue among religious communities and acknowledged the region’s ongoing conflicts and humanitarian challenges. Her visit occurred as Cameroon faces armed conflict between government forces and militant separatists.
The reparations fund has generated mixed reactions. Some observers in Africa welcomed the initiative, though questions remained about implementation and beneficiary identification. Critics in England disputed the level of church responsibility and raised concerns about funding implications for parish churches. Some religious leaders argued the fund amount was insufficient given the extent of the church’s historical involvement, with the independent audit having recommended £1 billion or more. The fund is scheduled for distribution through 2032 for investment, research, and aid programs supporting affected communities.
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