By Sarah Baafi
The Member of Parliament for Garu, Thomas Anabah, has backed President John Dramani Mahama’s call for the transatlantic slave trade to be recognised globally as a crime against humanity.
Speaking on the GTV Breakfast Show, Dr Anabah described the president’s stance as a necessary step towards achieving historical justice and restoring African dignity.
He argued that Africa’s underdevelopment cannot be fully understood without acknowledging the long-term impact of the slave trade, which led to the forced removal of millions of the continent’s most capable people.
“One of the reasons Africa is underdeveloped is because some of our best brains were taken away to Europe and America. The development they contributed there could have been built here,” he said.
Dr Anabah stressed that Africa has always possessed intellectual capacity, pointing to ancient civilisations such as the Ghana Empire as evidence of the continent’s rich history of governance, knowledge and innovation.
He said recognising the transatlantic slave trade as a crime is not merely symbolic, but a call for global accountability and a rebalancing of historical narratives that have often downplayed Africa’s contributions and losses.
The Garu MP also addressed concerns about possible international backlash following the president’s remarks, suggesting that Ghana must be prepared to take principled positions regardless of external pressure.
“Every major decision has repercussions, but we must be ready to take a stand as a people,” he said.
President Mahama’s comments have sparked debate both locally and internationally about reparations, historical responsibility and Africa’s place in shaping global discourse on justice.
While some observers have warned of possible diplomatic implications, others view the call as part of a broader push for recognition and redress for centuries of exploitation.
The discussion is expected to continue as governments, scholars and civil society groups engage with the implications of formally declaring the transatlantic slave trade a crime against humanity.
