By: Celestine Avi and Seth Eyiah
President John Dramani Mahama has called on the United Nations General Assembly to adopt a landmark resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity, describing the move as a critical step toward justice and healing.
Addressing the Assembly during a Plenary Session to mark the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, at the United Nations Headquarters in New New York, President Mahama said the draft resolution represents months of consultations and consensus-building among African nations, scholars, and global stakeholders.
He noted that progress in addressing historical injustices has been gradual but deliberate, emphasizing that the international community must continue advancing efforts to acknowledge and redress the enduring legacy of slavery.
The President said the day serves as a solemn reminder of the estimated 13 million Africans who were forcibly taken and enslaved over several centuries, stressing the importance of remembrance through education, documentation, and global dialogue.
He highlighted memorial efforts such as the Ark of Return at the UN Headquarters, describing them as vital tools for preserving history and promoting awareness.
President Mahama recalled that the observance itself was established through a UN resolution in 2006 and has since evolved into an annual global event, reflecting steady progress in acknowledging the atrocities of the slave trade.
He said Ghana’s proposal, first announced during the 80th Session of the General Assembly, seeks to formally recognize the scale and severity of the transatlantic slave trade and reinforce the call for reparative justice.
According to him, adopting the resolution would not only affirm historical truth but also serve as a safeguard against forgetting, while contributing to global healing and reconciliation.
Quoting former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., President Mahama urged member states to take a moral stand, noting that neutrality in the face of injustice only perpetuates wrongdoing.
He called on the Assembly to “stand on the right side of history” by supporting the resolution, adding that such a decision would help restore dignity to millions of victims of slavery and their descendants.
The resolution, if adopted, is expected to strengthen global efforts toward recognition, accountability, and reparatory justice for Africa and the diaspora.
