At a Latin America and Caribbean forum held in Bogotá, Colombia, Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called for a resolution to formally recognize the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity and to advance the cause of reparations for affected communities.
Addressing participants at the conference, he revealed that the proposal forms part of a significant motion to be tabled by former President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday, March 25.
The proposed resolution seeks to have the transatlantic slave trade acknowledged as one of the gravest crimes against humanity. It highlights that, for over three centuries, millions of Africans were subjected to brutal conditions—treated as property, enduring torture, humiliation, rape, and forced removal from their homeland. It is estimated that more than 12.5 million Africans suffered through this inhumane system.
The initiative further urges the international community to fully confront and acknowledge this painful chapter in history, emphasizing that there has yet to be a formal apology or adequate compensation for the victims and their descendants. It stresses that the time has come to pursue reparatory justice and restitution for the enduring impacts of the slave trade.
Source: backstage convo
