Ghana Seeks UN Recognition of Slave Trade as Crime Against Humanity

Ghana has submitted a draft resolution to the General Assembly calling for the transatlantic slave trade to be formally recognized as a crime against humanity, escalating a diplomatic push to reshape the global understanding of its legacy.

President John Dramani Mahama argued before a high-level meeting on reparatory justice that the trade’s enduring effects – rooted in systemic dehumanization – continue to drive inequality today. Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa rejected the notion of treating slavery as a closed chapter, stating the initiative seeks acknowledgment and dignity, not a ranking of historical suffering.

More than 13 million Africans were forcibly transported across the Atlantic between 1501 and 1867. Alongside the resolution, Ghana is expanding efforts to preserve historical records of the slave trade to bolster its case for recognition and accountability.