President John Dramani Mahama has called on the world to take a moral stand on slavery, warning that neutrality in the face of injustice amounts to siding with wrongdoing.
He made the remarks at the UN Plenary to commemorate the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
He told delegates that the transatlantic slave trade was built on systems designed to dehumanise Africans and sustain economic gain, adding that its legacy continues to shape global inequalities today.
Quoting historical figures to underscore his message, he said: “With a great moral issue involved, neutrality does not serve righteousness. For to be neutral between right and wrong is to serve wrong,” referencing Theodore Roosevelt.
He also cited Martin Luther King Jr., saying: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
Mahama stressed that recognising the slave trade as a crime against humanity is essential to restoring dignity to victims and advancing reparatory justice, while urging the international community to confront the past honestly and support efforts to address its lasting impact.
