Renowned U.S. civil rights activist Al Sharpton has backed efforts by Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, to have the transatlantic slave trade formally recognised as the gravest crime against humanity.
Sharpton’s endorsement comes as Brazil also signalled support for the initiative. The commitment was announced by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva following discussions with Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on the sidelines of the CELAC-Africa Summit in Colombia.
President Mahama is expected to present the proposal to the United Nations General Assembly on March 25, 2026. The resolution aims to officially classify the transatlantic slave trade and the racialised enslavement of Africans as the most severe crime against humanity.
The move is part of broader efforts to push for global acknowledgement of the injustices of slavery, which supporters argue is essential for advancing reparatory justice and addressing its long-term impact.
As part of the programme, Mahama will deliver a keynote address at a high-level event on reparatory justice at the UN headquarters in New York City. The event will gather global leaders and senior officials to deliberate on the issue.
He is also expected to address the General Assembly, presenting the African Union’s position in support of the resolution.
During his visit, Mahama will take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the African Burial Ground National Monument in honour of enslaved Africans.
