BTA2023 The government of Ghana is preparing to introduce a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly that would formally declare the Transatlantic Slave Trade the “gravest crime in the history of humankind.”
The proposal, backed by African governments, is expected to intensify global discussions about historical justice and reparations for slavery.
Ghana Pushes for Global Recognition of Slavery’s Impact
The initiative has the support of John Dramani Mahama, President of Ghana, who says the resolution aims to ensure that the scale, brutality, and long-term consequences of the slave trade are formally acknowledged by the international community.
Officials say the resolution could be introduced at the United Nations as early as this month.
According to Ghana’s Foreign Ministry, the proposal seeks to recognize the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime in history due to its scale, legalisation, duration, and enduring consequences across societies.
African Union Backs the Initiative
The proposal has already received backing from member states of the African Union, with Ghanaian officials saying all 40 African countries represented in the bloc support the initiative.
Speaking at the 26th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting in London, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa called on members of the Commonwealth of Nations to support the resolution ahead of a potential vote expected around March 25.
Renewed Debate Over Reparations
The resolution could strengthen growing international calls for reparations linked to slavery and colonial exploitation.
Governments in Africa and the Caribbean have increasingly argued that the economic and social consequences of slavery continue to shape global inequalities today.
The Transatlantic Slave Trade, which lasted from the 15th to the 19th century, forcibly transported more than 12 million Africans to the Americas, devastating African communities while generating enormous wealth in Europe and the Americas.
A Step Toward Historical Justice
By introducing the resolution at the United Nations General Assembly, Ghana hopes to secure formal global recognition of the historic injustice and lasting impact of the slave trade.
Supporters say such recognition could strengthen future discussions on reparative justice, historical accountability, and global education about slavery’s legacy.
