Mayor of London joins leaders in Accra to announce ‘historic’ new memorial site for victims of Transatlantic Slavery
- New memorial in Accra will stand testament to the one million people who were trafficked from the Gold Coast (present day Ghana) as part of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
- Planned artwork in Accra and Freetown will be first of a global network linked to the landmark memorial planned in London & funded by the Mayor
- Sadiq made the announcement during his trade mission to Africa
The first of a global network of memorials to victims of Transatlantic Slavery will be created in Ghana, linked to the landmark memorial planned in London, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Mayor of Accra Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey announced today.
The Mayor of London joined his counterpart in Accra to unveil plans for the memorial, as part of his historic five-day trade mission to Africa, as he continues to strengthen ties with countries across the continent.
Sadiq announced last year that ‘The Wake’ by Khaleb Brooks had been selected as the Memorial to Victims of Transatlantic Slavery in London, with £500,000 funding from the Mayor. The first of its scale and profile in the UK, the new memorial will be located in West India Quay in London Docklands. A number of smaller memorials will be installed at other locations that have connections to the trade of enslaved people, recognising that the legacy of Transatlantic Slavery is still present the capital.
Accra in Ghana will host the first of these partner memorials at a site outside its City Hall, with plans led by local leaders and communities. It will kickstart a global network of memorials that will connect back to ‘The Wake’ design in London, a seven-metre tall sculpture in the shape of a bronze cowrie shell that includes the names of enslaved people inside and a wind-chime soundscape, which is expected to be installed in 2026. Freetown in Sierra Leone will also join this global network of memorial sites. Each international partner memorial will be marked by a smaller cowrie shell artwork also designed by Khaleb Brooks.
London played a key role in the organisation and funding of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. While there are some monuments commemorating abolition in Ghana, and many statues and buildings reflecting the wealth and power the slave trade created internationally, more needs to be done to remember the millions of people who were enslaved and abused as a result – along with its impact on generations of Africans around the world.
All of the partner memorials will involve programmes educating future generations about the connections between London’s wealth and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The new partner memorial in Accra will recognise the lasting and devastating impact of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and stand testament to the one million people who were trafficked from the Gold Coast (present day Ghana) across the world.
Sadiq is this week visiting Lagos in Nigeria, Accra in Ghana, and Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa to build on extensive connections between the countries and the capital’s growing African diaspora, and boost trade links with London.
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “I’m honoured to join the Mayor of Accra to announce the first partner memorial to Victims of Transatlantic Slavery. This painful history continues to shape global society, and remembering the horrors of the Transatlantic Slave Trade is essential for us to understand ongoing inequalities today.
“This historic artwork will directly connect to the landmark memorial we are creating in London, providing a place to educate people about of the capital’s role in this terrible episode in human history.
“It’s now more important than ever that we commit to confronting these difficult parts of our history so that we can remember the millions of lives that were changed forever, but also learn from it.”
Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, Mayor of Accra, said: “The new memorial to be mounted in Accra marks an important and solemn moment for our city and for Ghana as a whole and will stand as a powerful reminder of the resilience of those who were enslaved and of our shared responsibility to remember and honour their lives.
“Hosting the first of these partner memorials in Accra, we hope to create a space for reflection, education, and healing to educate future generations of the painful chapter of our history and its enduring impact. This initiative, in partnership with the Mayor of London, will no doubt help in fostering dialogue and building stronger connections between the two communities.
“On behalf of the city of Accra, we are grateful to Mayor Sadiq Khan and the people of London for their commitment to telling this story in a way that transcends borders.”
Dr Debbie Weekes-Bernard, Deputy Mayor for Communities and Social Justice, said: “I welcome the official plans for the first partner memorial site in Accra, Ghana which will link back to the memorial being created for London as part of a global network of locations educating future generations on the history and legacy of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
“When complete, this memorial will bring to light a history that should never be forgotten, marks a past that we must learn from, and reminds us of our collective duty to creating a better society. Only by educating our current and future generations and actively working to tackle the inequalities of today, can we build a fairer London and world for all.”
