The United Nations General Assembly is set to vote on Wednesday on a resolution that would designate the transatlantic African slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity,” in a move supporters say could advance global recognition, healing and justice.
John Mahama travelled to the United Nations headquarters to rally support for the proposal, describing it as a “historic” step toward acknowledging the suffering caused by centuries of slavery.
Addressing the assembly on Tuesday, Mahama said the resolution would allow the international community to recognise the plight of more than 12.5 million Africans who were forcibly taken from their homes over a period spanning 400 years.
He described the initiative as a safeguard against historical amnesia and criticised efforts in some countries to limit education on slavery and racism, warning that such actions risk erasing critical aspects of history.
The draft resolution formally declares the trafficking and enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity and highlights its enduring legacy, including persistent racial discrimination and elements of neo-colonialism in modern society.
Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah said explicitly naming the atrocities removes ambiguity from the historical record and acknowledges that the slave trade was the result of deliberate policies whose consequences continue to shape global inequalities.
The resolution also calls on nations historically involved in the slave trade to engage in restorative justice measures. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said countries such as European states and the United States should formally apologise and consider steps including the return of looted cultural artefacts and addressing systemic racism.
He added that compensation for affected communities could form part of broader reparative efforts.
Responding to concerns from some member states that the resolution could create a hierarchy of suffering, Ablakwa said the intention was not to rank historical injustices but to recognise the scale, duration and lasting impact of the transatlantic slave trade.
The outcome of the vote is expected to signal the level of international consensus on addressing one of history’s most enduring injustices.