President John Dramani Mahama has asserted that the resolution designating the Transatlantic Slave Trade as the most severe crime against humanity represents a vital advancement towards healing and reparative justice for millions impacted by centuries of historical wrongs.
During a High-Level Special Event on Reparatory Justice at the United Nations Headquarters, themed “Reparatory Justice for the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and the Racialised Chattel Enslavement of Africans,” on Tuesday, March 24, President Mahama remarked that the resolution recognizes the anguish of over 12.5 million individuals whose lives were disrupted over several centuries.
“This resolution enables us, as a global community, to acknowledge the suffering of more than 12.5 million men, women, and children whose homes, community identities, families, aspirations, and futures were taken from them throughout 400 years,” he stated.
Mahama indicated that his statements represented not only Ghana’s stance but also that of Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the broader diaspora.
“I express these sentiments today not solely for the people of Ghana, but also for the entirety of Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the whole diaspora community, as well as all individuals of good conscience around the globe,” he continued.
He characterized the resolution as a crucial moral and historical landmark.
“This resolution serves as a pathway to healing and reparative justice. This resolution acts as a safeguard against oblivion,” Mahama remarked.
The president’s statements arise amidst increasing global demands for recognition of historical injustices and renewed dialogues concerning reparations and collective memory.
