Ghanaian President John Mahama has declared that Ghana will neither forget nor minimize the atrocities of slavery as the country prepares to table a United Nations motion seeking formal recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as the greatest crime against humanity.
Speaking at the opening of the Diaspora Summit 2025, he said the global debate on reparative justice has reached a defining moment, warning against historical erasure and indifference. He stressed that Africa and its diaspora continue to endure racism, discrimination and the denial of hard-earned rights, making this a time that demands honesty, courage and moral clarity rather than silence.
According to him, the present moment calls for a deliberate process of reclaiming what was lost and restoring dignity, justice and historical truth.
President Mahama revealed that Ghana has already notified the United Nations of its intention and expressed confidence that the motion will receive broad support across Africa and the global African diaspora.
He argued that reparative justice must go beyond symbolism, insisting on concrete measures such as debt cancellation, financial compensation, the return of stolen cultural artefacts, institutional reform and far-reaching economic redress within the global system.
Highlighting the long-term psychological and generational damage caused by slavery and racism, he questioned how genuine healing can occur without justice.
He concluded by urging Africans worldwide to embrace unity and collective action, emphasizing that the continent and its diaspora possess the power to reshape the future by confronting the injustices of the past together.
