Ghana News
‘Words Aren’t Reparations’: Pan-Africanist Shanell R Oliver Demands Catholic Church Unburden ‘Ill-Gotten’ Wealth From 400 Years of Enslaving Africans
A viral video by a Pan-African blogger is urging the Catholic Church to move beyond apologies and pay financial reparations for its documented role in authorizing and profiting from the enslavement of African people for centuries.
Shanell R Oliver, a social commentator whose video has trended across multiple platforms, argues that the Church’s leadership sanctioned the transatlantic slave trade for approximately 400 years, accumulating “tens of trillions of dollars” from the European nations it empowered to traffic, brand, chain, and destroy African lives. She asserts that the only credible apology is not words but the “unburdening of ill-gotten wealth.”
“It wasn’t theology. It was money. It’s always been money,” Oliver says in the video. “An apology without reparations is not accountability. It’s reputation management.”
The video’s resurgence comes less than two weeks after Pope Leo XIV issued what is widely regarded as the Vatican’s most explicit apology to date for the Church’s historical complicity in slavery, though he stopped short of endorsing financial reparations.
The Pope’s Apology: ‘A Wound in Christian Memory’
In his first major teaching document, the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas (“Magnificent Humanity”), released on May 25, 2026, Pope Leo XIV offered a “sincere” apology on behalf of the Catholic Church for its role in legitimising slavery and delaying its condemnation for centuries.
“This constitutes a wound in Christian memory, one from which we cannot consider ourselves detached,” the Pope wrote. “For this, in the name of the Church, I sincerely ask for pardon.”
The Pontiff acknowledged that Church authorities had at times responded to the demands of sovereigns by “regulating and legitimising forms of subjugation, including the enslavement of non-Christians,” and admitted that ecclesiastical institutions owned slaves during the Middle Ages.
However, the encyclical explicitly frames the Church’s response within the language of “restorative justice,” which the Pope said should focus on restoring dignity, healing collective memory, and addressing the lasting effects of past abuses, rather than financial compensation.
Pope Leo’s apology stopped short of endorsing a formal reparations program for descendants of enslaved people, a position advocacy groups have criticised as insufficient.
The Church as ‘First and Largest Corporate Slave Holder’
Oliver’s video contends that the Church’s complicity was not peripheral but institutional. She describes the Catholic Church as “the first and largest corporate slave holder in the Americas,” naming multiple religious orders—the Jesuits, Dominicans, Augustinians, Franciscans, Benedictines, the Sisters of Charity, the Sisters of Loreto, and the Trappists—as holding African people in bondage.
Historical scholarship supports the claim that Catholic orders were extensive slaveholders. The Jesuits alone held more than 20,000 enslaved Africans, and in 1838, the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus sold 272 enslaved individuals to fund what is now Georgetown University.
The sale, brokered by Rev. Thomas Mulledy, S.J., sent Hawkins and the others to plantations in Louisiana. In 2017, Georgetown University renamed two campus buildings formerly named for Mulledy and Rev. William McSherry, S.J. Isaac Hawkins Hall now honours the man listed first on the 1838 sale documents.
Papal Bulls That Authorised Enslavement
Oliver’s reference to 400 years of papal authorisation is grounded in a series of 15th-century papal bulls that provided religious and moral justification for the enslavement of non-Christians.
- Dum Diversas (1452) – Issued by Pope Nicholas V, this bull granted King Afonso V of Portugal “full and free permission to invade, search out, capture and subjugate the Saracens and pagans … and to reduce their persons into perpetual slavery”.
- Romanus Pontifex (1455) – Affirmed Portugal’s exclusive rights to territories discovered along the West African coast and further legitimised the slave trade.
- Inter Caetera (1456) – Issued by Pope Calixtus III, this bull reaffirmed the earlier bulls and extended Portugal’s authority over African territories.
Later popes, including Pope Paul III in the 1537 bull Sublimus Dei, condemned the unjust enslavement of non-Christians, though the Church did not issue a “formal, absolute and universal condemnation of slavery” until the 19th century.
Ghana and the Global Reparations Movement
Oliver’s demand for restitution aligns with a broader movement gaining momentum across Africa and the diaspora. Ghana, where an estimated 12 to 15 million Africans were forcibly shipped across the Atlantic between the 16th and 19th centuries, has emerged as a leading voice in the reparations campaign.
In March 2026, Ghana successfully spearheaded a United Nations resolution recognising the enslavement of Africans as the “gravest crime against humanity.” The resolution, submitted by Ghanaian President John Mahama and backed by the African Union, seeks to establish a framework for healing, reparations, and addressing the enduring legacies of slavery and racial discrimination.
Following Pope Leo XIV’s apology, Ghana’s government welcomed the Pontiff’s statement as an “act of moral courage” but stopped short of declaring the matter closed. Human Rights Watch also responded that while the apology was important, “words alone were insufficient,” and that genuine reparative justice requires concrete action from religious institutions, governments, and corporations that benefited from slavery.
The Argument for Reparations
Oliver’s video draws a direct line from the wealth extracted from enslaved Africans—which she argues built cathedrals, funded missions, and filled Vatican coffers—to the present-day obligation to return it.
“The bones of African people are buried under the foundation of every cathedral that wealth built,” she says. “That is not a wound in memory. That is a crime without a verdict.”
She dismisses the distinction between “restorative justice” and financial restitution, arguing that without the unburdening of actual wealth, apologies function merely as reputation management.
“St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas theologically defended the keeping of humans in bondage,” she notes. “St. Gregory the Great gave enslaved people to his friends as gifts. Words aren’t reparations. An encyclical isn’t justice. And absolution cannot be self-administered.”
What Comes Next
The Vatican has not responded directly to the specific demands made in Oliver’s video. Pope Leo XIV’s recent 11-day, four-nation tour of Africa—his first visit to the continent as pontiff—included strong criticism of foreign exploitation of Africa’s natural wealth but did not announce any financial restitution program.
Ghana is expected to host an international conference in June 2026 to discuss next steps following the UN resolution on slavery as a crime against humanity.
For activists like Oliver, the measure of the Church’s sincerity will not be found in encyclicals but in whether it is willing to translate its apology into assets returned.
“If you didn’t know, now you know,” she concludes.
In a decisive move to fulfill President John Dramani Mahama’s digital transformation agenda, the government has successfully pressured the nation’s leading telecommunications operators into slashing broadband prices and increasing data allocations, marking a major political and policy victory for the administration.
Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, announced the sweeping changes during the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, framing the outcome as a direct result of the government’s successful negotiation tactics and strong-arm leverage over the telecom sector.
The Minister revealed that MTN, facing the sharpest government intervention, increased its mobile data volumes by 15 per cent, while Telecel and AirtelTigo also bowed to pressure, increasing theirs by 10 per cent.
Most notably, MTN’s fibre broadband tariffs have been dramatically revised. The 100 Mbps unlimited package has been slashed from GH¢987 to GH¢299 per month, representing one of the largest residential broadband price reductions in recent years and a massive 70% drop in cost for consumers.
Presenting the reductions as a fulfillment of the Mahama administration’s core policy promises, Minister George emphasized that the interventions are part of a broader mission to force the private sector to align with the government’s public interest goals.
“These interventions form part of President Mahama’s digital transformation agenda to make internet access more affordable and expand opportunities for education, business and innovation,” Mr George stated.
He added that the government’s objective is to ensure that digital connectivity becomes a tool for inclusive economic growth rather than a luxury available to only a few, directly warning the telecom giants that the state will not tolerate the exclusion of ordinary Ghanaians from the digital economy.
The Minister assured Ghanaians that his Ministry will continue to exert regulatory and negotiating pressure to improve digital infrastructure, expand access to reliable, high-speed internet, and ensure that the government remains the ultimate arbiter of affordability for the citizenry.
Ghana News
Buckingham Palace Responds to Jamaica’s $10 Billion Reparations Demand, But the UK Government’s Wallet Remains Shut
A historic diplomatic maneuver that highlights the stark contrast between UK’s royal sympathy and governmental policy has been triggered by Jamaica’s official petition to King Charles III on Monday, September 7, 2026.
The petition formally requests that the UK’s highest court review the legality of the transatlantic slave trade and whether Britain has a legal obligation to pay reparations.
However, while Buckingham Palace has pledged its engagement with the process, the United Kingdom government immediately reiterated its firm position that its “wallet remains shut”.
Led by Jamaica’s Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, the delegation filed the petition in London, marking the first time a Commonwealth country has utilized this specific legal route to advance the cause of reparatory justice.
The petition seeks an advisory opinion from the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC), Jamaica’s highest court of appeal based in London, on three pivotal questions: whether the enslavement of Africans in Jamaica was legal under English common law, whether it breached international law, and whether the UK is currently legally obligated to provide a remedy for the harm caused.
While initial reports suggested Jamaica was seeking a $10 billion settlement, Minister Grange clarified to journalists that no specific sum is attached to the petition; instead, it aims to establish a legal foundation for determining what, if anything, is owed.
The Royal Response
The response from Buckingham Palace was characterized by procedural engagement coupled with royal distance. Contrary to some initial headlines, King Charles III—who is currently in Scotland and was not present for the delivery—will not personally receive the petition.
A palace spokesperson clarified that the process requires the petition to be lodged directly with the Judicial Committee under Section 4 of the 1833 Act, rather than being handed to the King.
The spokesperson emphasized that the King has “on many occasions expressed his personal and wholehearted commitment to promoting greater understanding around the issue of slavery and finding ways to address historic wrongs for the benefit of communities today”.
The Palace also confirmed that the Jamaican representatives would be received by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for bilateral discussions.
The Government’s Hardline Stance
While the Palace signaled engagement, the response from the British government was unequivocal and immediate. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s Downing Street office stated, “The UK does not and will not pay reparations”.
The spokesperson added, “The transatlantic slave trade was abhorrent and of course it’s right that we acknowledge the wrongs of the past, but we’ll continue to face forward and work with other countries on our current shared challenges”.
This stance remains unchanged despite recent acknowledgements that the UK significantly benefitted from the trade, and the fact that British institutions, such as the Church of England, have previously pledged funds to address their historical links.
A Historical Irony
The refusal comes against a backdrop of historical precedent that critics and advocates often highlight. In 1833, the British government agreed to a compensation package of £20 million (worth approximately $2.6 billion today) to be paid to British slave owners for the “loss of their property” after the abolition of slavery legislation.
“Encouraged” but Firm
Despite the government’s refusal to entertain financial compensation, Minister Grange expressed optimism about the engagement from Buckingham Palace.
“We’re not pre-empting the process, but we are encouraged,” she told Reuters, noting the Palace’s role in ensuring the petition was properly lodged through the Governor-General.
The move is seen as a significant escalation in the wider Caribbean reparations campaign. By seeking a legal opinion, Jamaica aims to bypass the political impasse that has blocked progress at Commonwealth summits.
If the JCPC rules in Jamaica’s favor, it could provide a powerful legal platform not only for Jamaica but for other former British colonies in the Caribbean demanding reparations, potentially paving the way for litigation in British courts.
Here are the top headline stories pulled from the front pages of the provided Ghanaian newspapers.
The Dispatch
- Main: GHANA MUST KEEP TWO TERM PREZ LIMITS – ASIEDU NKETIA
- Secondary: IGP YOHUNO PROMOTES SEVEN POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARRESTED SUSPECTS IN CONNECTION WITH MURDER
- Also: MY JOURNEY FROM RUNNING MATE TO FORMER VEEP IS BY GOD’S DIVINE WILL – DR. BAWUMIA; BLACK STARS COACH QUEIROS TO STAY; REV. STEPHEN WENGAM LAUNCHES THE 10TH TRIENNIAL CONGRESS…
The Hawk Newspaper
- Main: MAHAMA DUMPS ASHIE MOORE (Over ‘Incompetence’ At Sankofa Gold)
- Secondary: FORMER CDS OFFERS BOOZ AND CASH TO KILL STORY; MAHAMA, OPEN YOUR EYES! – Obiri Boahen’s Chilling Warning: NPP ‘Mulling Evil’; SILENT THEN. OUTRAGED NOW – Anin-Yeboah’s Praise Exposes Critics’ Double Standards
The Overseer
- Main: MAHAMA SACKS NDC ‘SERIAL TROUBLEMAKER’ ASHIE-MOORE FROM SANKOFA GOLD
- Secondary: Free Primary Healthcare To Reach All 216 Districts By 2027 – Akandoh; Mahama Has Mobilized $1.7bn For Accra-Kumasi Expressway – Tamakloe; Ato Forson Thanks Constituents For 18 Years Of Support
The New Trust
- Main: Over 300k candidates chose category A schools despite 76,417 vacancies – Education Ministry
- Secondary: Ashanti NPP Women’s Wing cautions “Prophet” Owusu Bempah over attacks on Ayew Afriyie & Bawumia; Govt spent GH¢49.7m on 1,964 Ghanaians evacuated from SA – Ablakwa reveals; COKA swears in appointed deputy regional executives & others…urges them to work hard in unity
The National Enquirer
- Main: DON’T PAY ANYONE FOR SHS PLACEMENT – Dr. Apaak warns parents
- Secondary: National Security Nabs Notorious Illicit Drugs Pusher; TOR Seeks Strategic Int’l Partners; Minerals Commission Pushes Deeper Ghana-UK Mining Cooperation; NPA Gears Up – Takes petroleum safety campaign to Fetu Afahye in Cape Coast
The Spyder
- Main: Ayariga’s Cathedral Slip-Up: Chieftaincy Minister Tenure Starts on Wrong Footing
- Secondary: Controversial ‘Witches Conference’ Set for Accra; Former Army Boss’ Cash-And-Booze Trap Fails – Oppong-Peprah’s Journalist Trap Lands Him in Trouble; Do the Math: Students are Getting Smarter in Numbers, Dumber in Words – WAEC
Daily Graphic
- Main: Free Primary Healthcare goes live (Over 4,500 facilities ready • 135 Districts implement policy)
- Secondary: 53,000 Grade 9 BECE graduates given lifeline – They can do self-placement; Amansie Community Bank mobilises GH¢1bn deposits – Highest in Ashanti Region for 2025
Economy Times
- Main: BoG develops regulatory framework for cedi-backed stablecoins
- Secondary: Ghana’s 4-Year Bond issuance settles at 12% – …govt accepts bids of GH¢3.15 billion; Cedi turnaround delivers GH¢23.7bn FX upswing for SOEs
Day Break (Dated September 2, 2026)
- Main: Mahama Sued – …Over Council of State Vacancy
- Secondary: 1 In 4 Fibre Cuts By Galamsey – …Sam George Reveals; Be Like Zijin! – …Armah Buah Charges Ghanaian Mining Companies; Galamsey To Worsen – …Without Right Intelligence Architecture
How Ghana’s Government Pressured MTN, Telecel, and AirtelTigo to Cut Data Prices
Buckingham Palace Responds to Jamaica’s $10 Billion Reparations Demand, But the UK Government’s Wallet Remains Shut
Top Headlines From Ghanaian Newspapers: Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026
-
Ghana News1 day agoTop Headlines From Ghanaian Newspapers: Monday, Sept. 7, 2026
-
Festivals & Events1 day agoDzawuwu: The Volta Festival That Celebrates Agave Bravery
-
Sights and Sounds1 day agoTrade Accra’s Traffic for Treetops at Legon Botanical Gardens
-
Health & Wellness1 day agoWhy 500 Sit-Ups a Day Won’t Reveal Your Abs
-
Ghana News1 day agoGhanaian Vaccine and Medicine Manufacturers Get Ready Market After NVI Clinches Historic Deal to Sell to Africa’s Bulk Buying Group
-
Taste GH19 hours agoTubaani Beans: Northern Ghana’s Hearty Answer to Rice and Beans
-
Festivals & Events18 hours agoLagos Meets Accra: Zephans & Co Brings Summer Style to the City
-
Ghana News3 hours agoTop Headlines From Ghanaian Newspapers: Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026