President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana is spearheading efforts to secure global recognition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade as the gravest crime against humanity, with plans to table a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly in March.
According to the President, the initiative follows his address during the Assembly’s 80th Session in September last year and forms part of a broader push for reparatory justice for Africans and people of African descent.
Presenting a report to the African Union Heads of State, he stressed that reparations would not be granted voluntarily but must be achieved through unity and sustained advocacy, likening the effort to Africa’s struggle for independence.
He noted that 2025 — designated as the AU Year of Justice through Reparations — has marked a turning point in the global reparations movement. Key steps include the establishment of an AU Coordination Team and a Committee of Experts on Reparations, as well as engagement with international institutions such as UNESCO.
President Mahama urged AU member states to strengthen institutions, establish national reparations commissions, and intensify diplomatic efforts to secure apologies, restitution, and binding agreements.
The proposed UN resolution is expected to further energise global discussions on historical accountability and reparatory justice.
