Accra, March 26, – The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution led by Ghana to recognise the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity.”
The resolution, tabled by President John Dramani Mahama in his capacity as the African Union Champion for Reparations, secured the support of 123 member states.
Three countries – the United States, Israel and Argentina – voted against the motion, while 52 abstained, including European Union member states and the United Kingdom.
The adoption of the resolution is expected to strengthen global efforts towards healing, justice and reparatory measures for the historical injustices of slavery.
Presenting the motion, President Mahama said the resolution followed months of extensive consultations involving governments, continental bodies, scholars and legal experts, aimed at building consensus grounded in truth, remembrance and moral responsibility.
“Today, we stand united in solemn solidarity to affirm truth and pursue a path to healing and reparative justice,” he stated.
He emphasised that the resolution would serve as a safeguard against historical amnesia and a step towards addressing the lasting effects of slavery and racial injustice.
Quoting former United States President Theodore Roosevelt, he noted that neutrality in matters of moral significance amounted to siding with wrongdoing. He also invoked the words of civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King Jr., highlighting the enduring pursuit of justice.
President Mahama urged member states to rise to the occasion, saying the moment called for a commitment to fairness and historical accountability.
“Let it be recorded that when history beckoned, we did what was right,” he said.
The resolution recognises the suffering of millions of Africans who were forcibly taken from their homes over centuries, and calls on the international community to acknowledge their plight and restore their dignity.
GHBUSS
26 March 2026
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