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Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has called on African Union (AU) member states to support and co-sponsor a resolution to be tabled at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. The resolution is seeking formal and universal recognition of the transatlantic slave trade and slavery as the gravest crime against humanity.
The move comes as March 25 is globally observed as the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. March 25 is set aside by the UN to honour the millions affected by the centuries-long trade. United Nations records indicate that the transatlantic slave trade, which spanned about 400 years, forcibly removed more than 15 million African men, women and children to North and South America, the Caribbean and Europe to serve as labour on plantation farms and in industries.
It is estimated that between one and two million enslaved Africans died and were thrown into the Atlantic Ocean during the journey to their destinations. Historical accounts also show that European and American slave owners were compensated for the loss of enslaved people following the abolition of slavery and the slave trade between the 1830s and 1900s. Meanwhile, victims and countries that later gained independence have not received recognition or reparations. Mr Ablakwa, delivering Ghana’s statement at the African Union’s 48th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council in Addis Ababa, expressed appreciation to the Permanent Representatives Committee for preparing the meeting’s report.
The Foreign Minister commended the African Union Commission for its technical and administrative support. He reaffirmed Ghana’s belief in multilateralism and the rules-based international order. “Ghana reaffirms its belief in multilateralism and in the rules-based order. We have no scintilla of doubt that in the final analysis, unity and solidarity shall triumph over division,” the Minister said.
Mr Ablakwa noted that the transatlantic slave trade had decimated African populations and laid the foundations for global economic inequalities that persist today. He said Ghana was honoured to have championed the African Union’s 2025 theme on Reparations and welcomed the recommendation of the 7th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting to transition the momentum into a Decade of Reparations from 2026 to 2035. “It is imperative that we remain steadfast in our pursuit of justice, recognising that the scars of colonialism and slavery continue to impact our development trajectory,” he stated.
The Foreign Affairs Minister said Ghana, acting on behalf of the African Union, intended to present a resolution at the United Nations General Assembly on March 25 this year, seeking global recognition of the transatlantic slave trade and slavery as crimes against humanity. He therefore urged all AU member states to provide unflinching support and co-sponsorship for the resolution to ensure its success.
Mr Ablakwa said Ghana had already engaged experts within the African Union, the CARICOM Reparations Commission and the wider African diaspora to build consensus and strengthen the initiative. “By standing together at the United Nations, we signal to the world that Africa will no longer allow the scale of its historical suffering to be minimised. We seek not only recognition, but a global legal framework that paves the way for healing, accountability, restitution and restorative justice,” he added.
The Minister also commended the Republic of Togo for its initiative aimed at correcting distortions in the map of Africa, describing it as a critical step towards reclaiming the continent’s true global image. Mr Ablakwa used the platform to express concern about rising incidents of conflict and insecurity across the African continent, calling for renewed commitment to peace and stability.
“It is time for us to silence the guns, and it is time to commit to lasting peace. We are one people and we shall unite and pursue the development of our continent and the prosperity of our people,” he said.
