President John Dramani Mahama has formally presented a motion at the United Nations General Assembly seeking to declare the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity, describing the move as a defining step toward justice and historical accountability.
Addressing world leaders during the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, the President called for a collective global response to a legacy that continues to shape societies today.
“Let our vote on this resolution restore their dignity and humanity,” he urged, framing the decision before the Assembly as both moral and historic.
In his address, President John Dramani Mahama reflected on the significance of the day, noting that it serves as a moment to honour the estimated 13 million Africans who were enslaved over several centuries.
He emphasized that remembrance goes beyond symbolic gestures, encompassing education, documentation, and reflection through cultural and historical expressions.
“We remember them through articles and oral histories, through broadcast programmes, books, music, and visits to museums and memorials,” he said, referencing the Ark of Return located at the United Nations Headquarters.
According to him, these acts of remembrance help societies learn from history while fostering healing across communities.
A Resolution Built on Global Consensus
The President explained that the draft resolution is the result of extensive consultations involving African states, international partners, scholars, and legal experts.
John Dramani Mahama noted that the process was guided by a commitment to truth, compassion, and moral clarity, with the aim of presenting a unified position to the international community.
“This draft resolution is grounded in truth, compassion, and moral conscience, remembrance, education, and dialogue,” he stated. He recalled that Ghana first signalled its intention to pursue such a declaration during the 80th session of the General Assembly, underscoring the continuity of the effort.
The initiative is being advanced on behalf of the African Group, reflecting a shared continental position on the need for recognition and justice.
A central theme of the President’s address was the transition from remembrance to action. President John Dramani Mahama stressed that acknowledging the past must lead to meaningful steps toward reparatory justice.
“Today, we come together in solemn solidarity to affirm truth and pursue a route to healing and reparative justice,” he said. He described the resolution as a safeguard against historical amnesia, warning that failure to confront the past risks undermining global moral authority.
By declaring the slave trade the gravest crime against humanity, he argued, the international community would take a decisive step toward restoring dignity to those who suffered and their descendants.
A Moral Call to the International Community
In urging support for the resolution, John Dramani Mahama framed the decision as a clear moral choice, drawing on historical reflections from prominent global figures.
Quoting former United States President Theodore Roosevelt, he noted that neutrality in the face of moral injustice ultimately serves wrongdoing. He also referenced civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., highlighting the enduring belief that justice, though gradual, remains inevitable.
These references, he explained, underscore the ethical responsibility of nations to act decisively when confronted with historical injustice. President Mahama concluded his address by calling on member states to rise to the occasion and align themselves with the demands of justice and humanity.
“We have travelled a long road, each step guided by a desire to be better and to do better,” he said, reflecting on the progress made since the establishment of the International Day of Remembrance in 2007.
He urged delegates to ensure that their decision reflects a commitment to future generations, emphasizing that the resolution represents more than a symbolic act. “Let it be recorded that when history beckoned, we did what was right for the memory of the millions who suffered the indignity of slavery,” he declared.
As the General Assembly prepares to deliberate, Ghana’s proposal is expected to shape global discourse on reparations, historical accountability, and racial justice. The outcome of the vote will mark a significant moment in the ongoing effort to confront the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade and chart a path toward healing.
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