• Ghana to submit UN resolution on slave trade March 25
• Draft seeks recognition as gravest crime against humanity
• Backed by AU, CARICOM; aims support justice and reconciliation

Ghana’s foreign ministry said on Thursday, March 19, that President John Mahama will present a draft resolution to the United Nations General Assembly on March 25, calling for the transatlantic slave trade to be recognised as the gravest crime against humanity in history.

According to its release, the draft underscores the profound impact of the slave trade on world history, citing its scale, duration, systemic nature, brutality and lasting effects on global socioeconomic disparities.

If adopted, the resolution would be the first in the United Nations’ 80-year history to fully address slavery and the transatlantic slave trade. Its adoption would help preserve historical truth as a basis for justice and reconciliation, and support calls for restorative justice, accountability and healing, the statement said.

The vote is scheduled to coincide with the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The Ghanaian government said recognising this history is a first step toward understanding the structural inequalities behind debt imbalances, development gaps, climate vulnerability and global financial governance.

The draft resolution is backed by the African Union, in collaboration with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and organisations representing people of African descent.

Ghana pushes for recognition of slave trade

Mahama first presented the initiative in February at the African Union summit. He previously outlined it in an address to the 80th United Nations General Assembly in September 2025, highlighting his continued commitment to historical recognition and restorative justice.

Former President Nana Akufo-Addo also called for a united front in November 2023 to secure reparations for transatlantic slavery and the legacy of colonialism.

The transatlantic slave trade represents the largest forced displacement of African populations in history, spanning more than four centuries. Between 15 and 20 million Africans were taken from their homes, enslaved and transported to the Americas and the Caribbean, according to UNESCO. They endured extreme hardship, the effects of which have lasted for generations, the agency said.

Lydie Mobio