John Dramani Mahama has called on the international community and world leaders to take a decisive moral stand by supporting a United Nations resolution that would formally recognize the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity.
Speaking at the plenary session of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, March 25, during the commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, Mahama emphasized that the time had come for nations to confront historical injustices with courage and unity.
In a strongly worded appeal, he urged UN member states to vote in favor of the proposed resolution, stressing that neutrality in moments of moral significance only serves to perpetuate injustice. According to him, the resolution represents more than symbolic recognition—it is a step toward restoring the dignity and humanity of millions of Africans who suffered under centuries of enslavement.
“Let it be recorded that when history beckoned, we did what was right for the memory of the millions who suffered the indignity of slavery,” Mahama stated, rallying global leaders. “Let our vote on this resolution restore their dignity and humanity.”
The Ghanaian leader explained that the draft resolution is the outcome of extensive consultations and consensus-building efforts involving continental organizations, national governments, historians, legal experts, scholars, and jurists. These efforts, he noted, were aimed at ensuring that the resolution is grounded in historical truth and reflects a unified global position.
Mahama underscored that formally declaring the transatlantic slave trade as a grave crime against humanity would not only acknowledge the scale and brutality of the injustice but also strengthen ongoing conversations around reparatory justice. He described the initiative as part of a broader collective effort to promote healing, accountability, and historical clarity.
“Today, we come together in solemn solidarity to affirm truth and pursue a route to healing and reparative justice,” he said, highlighting the importance of global cooperation in addressing the long-term consequences of slavery.
He further warned against historical amnesia, noting that adopting the resolution would act as a safeguard to ensure that the suffering of millions is neither forgotten nor diminished. According to him, remembering the atrocities of the past is essential to building a more just and equitable future.
Reflecting on humanity’s progress, Mahama said the global community has “travelled a long road,” guided by a shared desire to improve and leave a better world for future generations. He called on nations to continue advancing along this path by taking principled positions on issues of justice and human rights.
To reinforce his message, Mahama referenced the words of Theodore Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr., invoking their enduring calls for moral courage and justice. These references, he said, serve as reminders of the responsibility leaders bear in confronting injustice wherever it exists.
In closing, Mahama urged all countries to “stand on the right side of history” by voting in support of the resolution. He described the move as a critical and necessary step toward acknowledging the full gravity of the transatlantic slave trade and restoring the dignity of its victims, while laying the groundwork for meaningful reparative justice.
