Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, has reaffirmed her support for a £100m slavery fund addressing the Church of England’s historical links to transatlantic slavery during a visit to Cape Coast Castle in Ghana.
Her declaration matters because it connects acknowledgement by one of Britain’s most powerful religious institutions with Ghana’s effort to move reparations beyond remembrance and towards investment, cultural restitution, institutional reform and measurable support for affected communities.
Castle visit confronts Church history
Mullally toured the dungeons at Cape Coast Castle, where enslaved Africans were held before being forced through the ‘door of no return’ and transported across the Atlantic.
BBC News reported that she said the conditions inside the castle brought home the ‘evil’ of transatlantic slavery and forced her to reflect on the role played by the institution she now leads.
The chapel built above the dungeons offered an especially stark symbol of that history. The Church of England has previously apologised for links to slavery involving historical investments, clergy who owned enslaved people and missionary plantations worked by enslaved labourers in the Caribbean.
Mullally said Christian repentance required action rather than acknowledgement alone.
What the £100m commitment means
The £100m commitment is not a new payment to Ghana and is not intended as direct compensation to individuals.
The Church Commissioners announced the programme in 2023 after examining links between its predecessor fund, Queen Anne’s Bounty, and African chattel enslavement.
The Church says the money will support impact investment, research, engagement and grants benefiting communities still affected by slavery’s legacy. The commitment covers 2023 to 2031.
The Fund for Healing, Repair and Justice is still being established, with its governance and regulatory arrangements yet to be finalised. The Church hopes returns and contributions from other institutions could eventually expand the initiative beyond the original £100m.
Ghana pushes debate towards action
Mullally’s comments carry additional weight because Ghana has become a leading diplomatic voice on reparatory justice.
Africa Briefing previously reported on Ghana’s plan to submit a UN slavery reparations resolution as Accra sought support among African, Caribbean and other Global South governments.
On March 25, 2026, the UN General Assembly adopted Ghana-backed Resolution A/RES/80/250, declaring the trafficking and racialised chattel enslavement of Africans the gravest crime against humanity. It received 123 votes in favour, three against and 52 abstentions.
The vote intensified a global battle over slavery reparations and whether recognition can produce meaningful redress.
Ghana followed the vote with a high-level conference in Accra in June. Governments, experts and civil society groups discussed implementation, cultural restitution and institutional reform, including whether Africa can turn reparations diplomacy into tangible outcomes.
Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa welcomed Mullally’s position, arguing that her visit could challenge opposition within the Church and reinforce the principle that admission must be followed by action.
Opposition has not disappeared
Critics have questioned the historical assessment of the Church’s involvement, raised concerns about charity law and argued that Church resources should support struggling parishes and ministry.
The Church Commissioners say the £100m will come from their endowment rather than parishioners’ donations.
Delivery will determine its meaning
The decisive issue is implementation. Communities will want clarity on who controls the fund, which projects qualify, when investments begin and how outcomes are measured.
At Cape Coast Castle, the Archbishop renewed the language of repentance. The credibility of that commitment will depend on whether it produces transparent and lasting repair.
Credit: Africa Briefing
