Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, says the influential Congressional Black Caucus in the United States has pledged full support for a proposed United Nations resolution led by Ghana that seeks to declare the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity.
Mr Ablakwa made the announcement while on a visit to Washington, D.C., where he held talks with members of the caucus ahead of what Ghana describes as a “historic” initiative at the United Nations.
The resolution is being championed by Ghana under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama and is expected to be presented later this month as part of a broader international campaign for reparatory justice for the descendants of enslaved Africans.
In a statement shared on his social media, Mr Ablakwa said the caucus had given “100% support” to Ghana’s draft resolution, describing the endorsement as a major boost to the country’s diplomatic efforts.
“The Congressional Black Caucus has declared 100% support for Ghana’s UN draft resolution,” he said, adding that the backing from what he called the “conscience of Congress” was “most cherished and deeply appreciated”.
The Congressional Black Caucus is a group of African-American lawmakers in the United States Congress known for advocating policies that address issues affecting Black communities in the US and globally.
Mr Ablakwa said the discussions also produced an agreement to establish a more structured partnership between Ghana, the African Union and the caucus.
The collaboration will focus on seeking justice and restitution related to the transatlantic slave trade while advancing shared political and economic interests.
He expressed gratitude to the caucus chair, Yvette D. Clarke, and lawmakers including Gabe Amo, a US congressman of Ghanaian heritage, for what he described as their “invaluable solidarity”.
Ghana has been actively promoting international recognition of the historical and lasting impact of the transatlantic slave trade, which forcibly transported millions of Africans to the Americas between the 16th and 19th centuries.
Mr Ablakwa said Ghana and its partners were “united to make history” when the resolution is presented on 25 March 2026, a date observed globally as the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
