Ghana is preparing to present a historic resolution at the United Nations General Assembly seeking to formally declare the Transatlantic Slave Trade as the gravest crime against humanity.
The initiative, spearheaded by President John Dramani Mahama, is scheduled for consideration on March 25, 2026, aligning with the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ghana is advancing the motion in its capacity as the African Union’s Champion on Reparations, working closely with the African Union and the Caribbean Community, as well as people of African descent worldwide.
The proposed resolution seeks to recognise the trafficking and enslavement of Africans as the most severe crime against humanity, citing its global impact, scale, duration, and lasting consequences.
If adopted, it would represent the first comprehensive United Nations resolution on slavery in the organisation’s 80-year history. Ghana believes the move will help preserve historical truth while laying a foundation for justice, reconciliation, and growing calls for reparations.
Ahead of the General Assembly session, a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the African Burial Ground on March 24, followed by a high-level dialogue on reparatory justice at the United Nations.
The ministry also acknowledged contributions from global institutions, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and various African Union bodies in shaping the resolution.
Ghana has called on all UN member states to support the initiative, describing it as a pivotal step toward addressing the enduring legacy of slavery. The country is expected to continue its advocacy under the African Union’s Decade of Action on Reparations and African Heritage (2026–2036).
