At the plenary of the United Nations General Assembly, John Dramani Mahama delivered a powerful and historic statement on behalf of the African Group, calling for the transatlantic slave trade to be formally declared the gravest crime against humanity.
Speaking on the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery, President Mahama reminded the world of the approximately 13 million Africans who were forcibly taken, enslaved, and subjected to unimaginable suffering over centuries.
He emphasized that remembrance must go beyond reflection it must lead to justice, education, and healing.
The address marked a significant step in a broader global effort. President Mahama revealed that the draft resolution presented before the Assembly was the result of months of consultations among African nations, scholars, and legal experts, all working toward a unified and morally grounded position.
He stressed that adopting the resolution would serve as a safeguard against historical amnesia, ensuring that the atrocities of slavery are never minimized or forgotten.
According to him, the initiative is not only about acknowledging the past but also about pursuing reparative justice and restoring dignity to millions of victims and their descendants.
Quoting former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., President Mahama urged the global community to reject neutrality in the face of injustice and to stand firmly on the side of truth.
“As history calls upon us,” he concluded, “let it be recorded that we chose what was right.”
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/Ahotoronline.com | Ghana 🇬🇭