Ghana is set to take a historic step at the Transatlantic Slave Trade UN resolution process, as President John Dramani Mahama prepares to table a landmark resolution at the United Nations General Assembly on March 25, 2026.
The resolution seeks to formally declare the Transatlantic Slave Trade as the gravest crime against humanity, fulfilling a pledge made by the President during his address to the UN General Assembly last year.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the initiative represents a defining moment in global efforts to acknowledge the historical and enduring impact of slavery.
Global collaboration for justice
Ghana is leading the effort in its role as African Union Champion on Reparations, working in collaboration with the African Union and Caribbean Community, alongside people of African descent worldwide.
The proposed resolution highlights the “definitive break in world history, scale, duration, systemic nature, brutality and enduring consequences” of the slave trade, which continue to shape global inequalities.
If adopted, it would become the first comprehensive UN resolution on slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade in the organisation’s 80-year history.
The resolution is expected to go beyond symbolic recognition, laying the groundwork for deeper engagement on reparatory justice, accountability, and healing.
Officials say its adoption would help preserve historical truth while addressing structural inequalities linked to development gaps, debt burdens, and climate vulnerability.
Ghana has urged all UN member states to support the resolution, calling on them to “be counted on the right side of history and justice.”
Key events ahead of adoption
Ahead of the tabling, a solemn wreath-laying ceremony will be held on March 24 at the African Burial Ground National Monument, followed by a high-level event on reparatory justice at the UN.
These events are expected to bring together policymakers, academics, activists, and international partners to reflect on the legacy of slavery and chart a path forward.
Following the anticipated adoption, Ghana plans to intensify its advocacy under the African Union’s Decade of Action on Reparations and African Heritage (2026–2036).
The government says it will continue working with global partners, including UNESCO and other regional bodies, to advance dialogue and policy on reparations.
The initiative marks a significant moment in Ghana’s diplomatic efforts, positioning the country at the forefront of global calls for justice, recognition, and reconciliation over one of history’s most enduring injustices.
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