Ghana is poised to present a landmark resolution at the United Nations General Assembly, aiming to classify the Transatlantic Slave Trade as the most severe crime against humanity, as announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
This initiative, spearheaded by President John Dramani Mahama, is set for discussion and potential approval on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, coinciding with the International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
As stated by the ministry, Ghana is promoting this resolution in its capacity as the African Union Champion on Reparations, in partnership with the African Union and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), as well as with individuals of African descent worldwide.
The statement highlighted that “the resolution would officially recognize the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and the Racialized Chattel Enslavement of Africans as the most serious crime against humanity due to its significant impact on world history, its scale, duration, systemic nature, brutality, and lasting repercussions.”
If approved, this would represent the first all-encompassing United Nations resolution addressing slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade in the organization’s 80-year existence, according to the ministry.
The statement further indicated that this action would “uphold historical truth as a basis for justice and reconciliation” and address the increasing demands for reparatory justice, accountability, and healing.
In anticipation of the resolution’s presentation, a wreath-laying ceremony is scheduled to take place at the African Burial Ground in New York on March 24, followed by a high-level event focused on reparatory justice at the United Nations.
The ministry expressed gratitude to a diverse array of institutions and experts, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and various African Union entities, for their input in formulating the resolution.
Ghana has called upon all UN member states to endorse the initiative, characterizing it as a pivotal moment in promoting global justice and tackling the enduring impacts of slavery.
Following its review, the nation is expected to continue advocating for reparatory justice as part of the African Union’s Decade of Action on Reparations and African Heritage (2026–2036).
