Archbishop of Canterbury reaffirms £100m fund for slavery‑affected communities during Ghana visit

Dame Sarah Mullally, the Archbishop of Canterbury, expressed regret during her first visit to Ghana, lamenting the Church of England’s historical involvement in trans‑Atlantic slavery. Speaking at Cape Coast Castle—a 17th‑century fortress that once housed thousands of enslaved Africans before their forced transport across the Atlantic—she reaffirmed the church’s commitment to a £100 million fund aimed at supporting communities affected by the legacy of slavery.

The castle, originally built by Swedish traders and later occupied by Danish, Dutch, and British forces, has become a symbol of the brutal history of chattel slavery. Mullally’s remarks came as part of a broader effort by the Church of England to acknowledge its role in the slave trade and to provide reparative support to descendant communities. The £100 million fund, which has been controversial, is intended to finance projects that address the long‑term social and economic impacts of slavery in affected regions.

Mullally’s statement underscores the church’s ongoing engagement with the historical injustices of slavery and its pursuit of tangible reparations. The visit to Cape Coast Castle, a site of profound historical significance, highlights the continuing dialogue between the Church of England and the communities it once exploited, as it seeks to reconcile past wrongs with present‑day restorative initiatives.