The argument that "our ancestors did it, not us" is often cited by some Western countries in debates over slavery reparations. But Ghana is challenging that position on the global stage. In 2026, Ghana led a United Nations (UN) initiative calling for greater international recognition of the lasting impacts of transatlantic slaveryand the exploration of reparative justice measures, including possible financial compensation and thereturn of cultural heritage items. As momentum builds, a key question remains: can restorative justice succeed without legally binding enforcement?