London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Accra Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey announced plans for a global network of memorials honoring Transatlantic Slavery victims, starting with sites in Accra and Freetown linked to a landmark London monument.
The announcement came during Khan’s trade mission to Ghana, reinforcing ties between the cities.
The Accra memorial, to be installed outside City Hall, will testify to the one million individuals trafficked from the Gold Coast (modern Ghana).
It connects artistically to London’s “The Wake” a 7-meter bronze cowrie shell sculpture by Khaleb Brooks, funded by £500,000 from the Mayor’s office and slated for 2026 installation at West India Quay.
Each international site will feature a smaller Brooks-designed cowrie shell, symbolizing resilience amid historical trauma.
Accra’s memorial will launch education programs addressing London’s role in financing the slave trade and its enduring socioeconomic impacts.
“This painful history shapes global society,” stated Khan, emphasizing the need to confront injustices to “build a fairer world.” Mayor Allotey called the project a “solemn reminder of resilience,” creating space for reflection and cross-cultural dialogue.
Freetown, Sierra Leone a settlement for freed enslaved people joins as the next confirmed site. The network aims to counter historical omissions; while Ghana has abolition monuments, few memorialize victims directly.
Ghana’s political landscape under President John Mahama (NDC) prioritizes cultural restitution. The memorial aligns with Accra’s efforts to reckon with slavery’s legacy, including recent diaspora engagement initiatives.