Ghana is calling on the world to officially recognize the transatlantic slave trade as one of the worst crimes in human history. Speaking at the United Nations, Ghana’s representative Samuel Yao Kumah urged countries to support a new resolution that highlights the importance of this historical event.
The proposal, which will be presented by President John Dramani Mahama, is meant to strengthen ongoing efforts for reparations—especially those led by Caribbean nations. The goal is not to compare or rank different historical tragedies, but to recognize how the slave trade shaped the modern world and continues to influence inequality today.
Kumah explained that the resolution is mainly symbolic. It is not a law and does not create legal consequences, but it serves as an important political and historical statement. It acknowledges how the forced enslavement of Africans helped create long-lasting systems of racial inequality across the globe.
He also pointed out that, in the past, laws were often used to justify slavery and discrimination. Today, he argues, the international community should not use legal arguments to avoid facing historical truths.
In simple terms, Ghana wants the world to openly recognize this painful history so that it can better deal with its consequences and support fairness in the present.
Source: TRT Africa
