Ghana has called on the United Nations to support a resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as one of the most serious crimes against humanity.
The objective: to strengthen efforts in favor of reparations for African and Afro-descendant populations.
At a meeting in New York dedicated to restorative justice, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama denounced the atrocities committed during slavery. He recalled that this violence was made possible because enslaved Africans were considered objects and not human beings.
According to him, the consequences of this period continue to affect contemporary societies, particularly through persistent inequalities. Ghana, speaking on behalf of the African group at the UN, therefore called for stronger international recognition of this historical legacy.
Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stressed the need to put the debate into context. He stated that the aim was not to compare suffering, but to acknowledge a major injustice.
He also criticized the positions of some Western officials who consider slavery to be solely a matter of the past. According to him, such an approach demonstrates a lack of recognition of the dignity and worth of the peoples concerned.
In parallel, initiatives are underway to better document the history of the transatlantic slave trade and preserve its traces. According to Accra, this work should support demands for reparations and contribute to the international debate.
A sensitive issue, which continues to divide the international community, but which Ghana intends to keep at the center of discussions.
