Ghana is urging support at the United Nations for a draft resolution that would formally recognize the transatlantic slave trade as one of history’s gravest crimes against humanity.
Ghana’s Permanent Representative, Samuel Yao Kumah, told member states that the resolution seeks to confront the lasting impact of a system that forcibly transported over 13 million Africans between 1501 and 1867. He stressed that the measure is intended to strengthen discussions on reparations and historical accountability, not to compare atrocities or create a hierarchy of suffering.
Kumah emphasized that genocide, apartheid, and colonial violence remain unequivocally condemned under international law. “The focus is on recognition rather than comparison,” he said, highlighting that the resolution reflects a commitment to dignity, equality, and truth.
For Ghana, the proposal represents a step toward addressing historical injustices while fostering broader global conversations on justice and reparative measures. Kumah also clarified that supporting the resolution should be seen as a shared responsibility rather than an act of accusation.
The transatlantic slave trade, which spanned more than three centuries, forcibly tore millions from their homes, families, and futures, with consequences that continue to shape modern global inequalities.
