Mahama Pushes UN Resolution to Recognize Transatlantic Slave Trade as Gravest Crime Against Humanity

The President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has announced that he has initiated processes to table a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly in March this year, seeking global recognition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade as the gravest crime against humanity.

According to the President, the move follows his earlier announcement during the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly in September last year. He emphasized that the push for recognition is part of a broader campaign for reparatory justice for Africans and people of African descent.

President Mahama stated that reparatory justice will not be freely given but must be pursued with unity and determination. He likened the struggle for reparations to the fight for independence, stressing that collective effort across the continent and the diaspora will be critical.

In his report to the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State, the President noted that 2025, designated as the African Union Year of Justice through Reparations, marks a significant turning point in the campaign. He outlined key steps already taken to advance the cause.

These include the establishment of an AU Coordination Team and a Committee of Experts on Reparations. Ghana and its partners have also engaged global institutions, including the United Nations and UNESCO, while leading discussions at major international forums across four continents. The President said the approach has helped to reframe reparations as forward looking instruments aimed at promoting justice and equity.

Despite the progress made, President Mahama acknowledged that much work remains. He called on all AU Member States to strengthen their institutions, establish national reparations commissions, and actively engage the global community to secure formal apologies, restitution, and binding agreements.

The proposed resolution at the UN General Assembly is expected to further intensify global discussions on historical accountability and reparatory justice for Africa and its diaspora.