Ghana Wins Historic Vote for UN Resolution to Declare Slave Trade the Gravest Crime Against Humanity
- Ghana's resolution to declare the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity won majority support at the UN
- The motion called for a renewed international commitment to seek reparative justice for African nations scarred by slavery
- The abstentions and dissenting countries were mostly nations of European descent, according to the UN's election results
Ghana secured majority support for its resolution to declare the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity, with 123 nations voting in favour.
According to the results, three nations voted against the historic resolution while 52 abstained.
Source: Facebook
The three dissenting nations were the United States of America, Argentina, and Israel, while EU nations also dominated the abstentions.
Countries like the UK have long rejected paying reparations, arguing that nations and institutions of today cannot be held responsible for past wrongs.
The motion, presented on March 25, 2026, called for a renewed international commitment to reparative justice for African nations and the descendants of enslaved people.
It urged UN member states to engage in structured dialogue and concrete actions aimed at acknowledging and addressing the enduring social, economic, and cultural impacts of slavery.
Foreign Minister Samuel Okuzeto Ablakwa celebrated the victory on Facebook, saying Ghana 'did it for Africa and all people of African descent.'
Speaking at a press briefing on the sidelines of the voting, the minister later called the resolution a moment of truth for the international community.
"Through this resolution, the world has spoken the truth... We can't change history, but we can change how it is told going forward."
Before the vote, President John Mahama addressed the plenary of the UN General Assembly with a last-minute call for support.
He underscored the importance of preserving history through education and memorialisation.
In his speech, shared on Facebook, he noted sites such as the Ark of Return at the UN Headquarters as symbols of remembrance and reflection.
“Through these activities, we do more than remember. We document and educate; we gain a greater perspective; we find the delicate balance of learning from history so we do not repeat it, while leaving the pain behind.”
Source: Getty Images
Between 1500 and 1800, around 12-15 million people were captured in Africa and taken to the Americas where they were forced to work as slaves.
It is estimated that over two million people died on the journey.
An African-American man in the US praised Mahama for demanding reparations tied to the transatlantic slave trade for African countries.
In a video circulating on social media, the man said Mahama's efforts to have the Transatlantic Slave Trade recognised as the gravest crime against humanity must be appreciated.
Mahama criticises Trump over black history
YEN.com.gh reported that Mahama had criticised the Trump administration for its handling of black history and accused it of normalising the erasure of the past.
The Ghanaian president said certain policies by the United States of America are becoming a template for other governments, as well as some private institutions.
Mahama stated that black history courses were being removed from school curricula and institutions were being mandated to stop teaching the truth of slavery.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
