Ablakwa: France’s Slave Law Classifying Africans as Property Repealed
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has pointed to a significant milestone under the United Nations Resolution programme on enslaved Africans, indicating that the historic France Code Noir has effectively been repealed as part of ongoing international reparatory justice efforts.
Speaking at a high-level consultative conference on “Next Steps” under the UN resolution on enslaved Africans held in Accra on Thursday, June 18, Ablakwa said the development reflects growing global commitment to addressing historical injustices linked to the transatlantic slave trade.
The Code Noir, a 1685 French royal decree, defined enslaved Africans as property and set out harsh regulations governing their treatment in colonial territories and remained on France’s statute books for centuries.
According to him, its repeal marks a major outcome of sustained advocacy under the UN-backed initiative.
“…obnoxious Code Noir, a deeply dehumanising set of laws that classified Africans as commodities and movable property, allowing slave owners to mutilate and maim Africans without consequence.
“It was not treated as a criminal offence, and it is deeply shocking that it remained on the statute books of France for centuries. But thanks to our resolution and the work we are doing, the Code Noir no longer exists and has now been repealed.”
Ablakwa stressed that the resolution is yielding tangible results beyond diplomatic discussions, citing what he described as broader international engagement, including signals from the European Union expressing willingness to collaborate with Ghana on reparatory justice mechanisms.
He also underscored the readiness of the governments of Germany and the Netherlands to support the return of cultural artefacts to Africa. He labelled these developments as part of a wider shift toward historical accountability and restitution.
The high-level consultative conference event seeks to address the enduring legacy and consequences of the transatlantic slave trade.
Among the key participants are the presidents of Namibia, Senegal, Liberia and France, whose presence reflects their commitment to pursuing justice for the course.
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