The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a Ghana-backed resolution declaring the trafficking and enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.
The motion, introduced by President John Mahama was approved with 123 votes in favour, 3 against and 52 abstentions, signalling broad international support.
Addressing the General Assembly before the votes, President Mahama urged member states to “stand on the right side of history”.
He addressed delegates on the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, honouring the millions who suffered under the system.
“It is a day on which we honour the memory of the approximately 13 million African men, women and children who were enslaved over the course of several centuries,” he said.
According to him, remembrance was not only about memorials and education but also about healing.
“Through these activities, we do more than remember. We document and educate and begin to heal individually within our communities and within the global community,” he added.
He noted that the resolution followed months of consultations with governments, scholars and legal experts aimed at building consensus.
“In September last year Ghana served notice that we would move a motion to declare the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity. The adoption of this resolution serves as a safeguard against forgetting. It also challenges the enduring scars of slavery,” he said.
President Mahama concluded by urging delegates to support the resolution in memory of those who suffered.
“Let our vote on this resolution restore their dignity and humanity.”
The resolution led by Ghana is a significant history made, with hope of addressing the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, reparative justice, and remembrance.
