The Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union has unanimously approved a resolution spearheaded by Ghana recognizing the transatlantic slave trade and racialized chattel enslavement as foundational crimes against humanity.
The decision was reached by consensus during the AU’s 39th Ordinary Session. Speaking at a press briefing, Ghana’s President John Mahama described the move as a landmark achievement that grants the country a unified continental mandate to advance the initiative on the global stage.
President Mahama announced that Ghana’s next diplomatic step will involve engagement at the 50th regular meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), highlighting the deep historical ties between Africa and the Caribbean.
Beginning February 20, Ghana plans to intensify consultations in New York with CARICOM members, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77 and China, and the European Union, among other regional blocs.
The president emphasized that the effort seeks broad international backing grounded in truth, recognition, and reconciliation, stressing that the initiative is not aimed at any specific country but at fostering global acknowledgment of historical injustices and promoting dialogue on reparative justice.
