President John Dramani Mahama is set to table a historic resolution at the United Nations General Assembly seeking to declare the Transatlantic Slave Trade as the gravest crime against humanity.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ghana, the resolution is scheduled for consideration and adoption on March 25, 2026, coinciding with the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
The move forms part of Ghana’s broader commitment to advancing reparatory justice, as the country leads efforts in its role as the African Union Champion on Reparations, working in collaboration with Caribbean nations and other stakeholders.
The proposed resolution seeks to formally recognise the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement as the gravest crime against humanity, citing its scale, brutality, systemic nature and enduring global impact.
The Ministry noted that the resolution, if adopted, would mark a significant milestone in the history of the United Nations, becoming the first comprehensive global declaration on slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
It added that such recognition would not only preserve historical truth but also serve as a foundation for justice, reconciliation and meaningful engagement on reparatory measures.
“Ghana urges all UN Member States to be counted on the right side of history and justice,” the statement said.
Ahead of the tabling, a wreath-laying ceremony is expected to be held at the African Burial Ground in New York on March 24, followed by a high-level event on reparatory justice at the UN.
Following the adoption of the resolution, Ghana is expected to continue championing multilateral efforts on reparations under the African Union’s Decade of Action on Reparations and African Heritage (2026–2036).
