By Hannah Dadzie
Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has joined leaders and activists at a historic burial ground in New York City to honour victims of the transatlantic slave trade.
The wreath-laying ceremony forms part of events leading to Ghana’s planned tabling of a resolution at the United Nations to declare the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity.
Speaking at the event, Mr Ablakwa said Ghana’s historical role in the slave trade places a moral and spiritual responsibility on the country to lead the push for reparatory justice.
He said Ghana is stepping forward not only as a state actor in global diplomacy but also as a nation deeply connected to the memory of millions of Africans who were forcibly taken from the continent.
“Ghana is honoured to lead this process because many of them passed through Ghana. The country has the highest number of forts and castles, and many of our ancestors here today passed through them. We therefore have a moral responsibility and a spiritual obligation to lead this charge,” he said.
The minister made the remarks as Ghana prepares to table the resolution on March 25 as part of a broader campaign for reparatory justice for Africans and people of African descent.
Mr Ablakwa said the ceremony was held in honour of more than 14,000 ancestors buried in New York and to symbolically ground Ghana’s diplomatic effort in remembrance.
He explained that John Dramani Mahama sought to pay respects and seek the blessings of the ancestors ahead of the United Nations engagement.
“He cannot proceed to the UN building without coming here to seek the blessing of our ancestors and to pay his respects,” Mr Ablakwa said.
He added that the initiative is aimed at restoring dignity to those who were dehumanised under slavery and ensuring that their suffering is neither erased nor forgotten.
“Though they went through the ‘door of no return’ and were meant to be forgotten, we are here to send a clear message that those perpetrators failed. Our ancestors are remembered, respected, and their dignity is restored,” he said.
Mr Ablakwa described the UN move as part of a broader campaign led by President Mahama on behalf of Africans and the global African diaspora.
He said the president is championing the cause for 1.4 billion Africans and more than 600 million people of African descent in seeking reparatory justice.
The ceremony also had a diplomatic dimension, with Mr Ablakwa thanking Eric Adams and city officials for their support to Ghana’s delegation ahead of the UN engagement.
He said their cooperation had helped position Ghana to “make history” with the tabling of the resolution.
The minister expressed confidence that a majority of the international community would support the resolution, describing it as a continuation of efforts by past generations who fought for liberation, truth and justice.
