Archbishop Mullally ends African tour urging peace and backs £100 million slavery reparations fund

Archbishop Sarah Mullally concluded a ten-day African trip with a sermon in Yaounde, urging global healing amid conflict and displacement. In Ghana she toured Cape Coast Castle, defended the Church of England’s £100 million reparations fund created after an audit revealed the church’s financial links to slavery, and led an all-women clergy service in Accra. In Cameroon she called for genuine, inclusive dialogue to end the armed struggle between government forces and Anglophone separatists, praising cooperation among Anglican, Catholic and other faith groups.

Mullally met President John Dramani Mahama, the Ashanti king Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and discussed the fund’s future, though retired Bishop Julius Kalu and theologian Jackie Makena voiced concerns about beneficiary identification and adequacy. Critics in the UK argue the fund diverts money from parish churches, while many Africans view it as a step toward broader reparative justice.