President John Dramani Mahama has described the United Nations’ approval of a motion on slavery reparations as a significant milestone, but cautioned that it marks only the start of a broader struggle for justice.
His remarks come after the UN General Assembly voted in favour of a motion he tabled, seeking recognition of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade as the gravest crime ever committed against humanity, alongside calls for reparatory justice.
Speaking after the General Assembly session on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, President Mahama emphasised that the outcome, while historic, must translate into sustained global action.
“This is not the end. This is the beginning. What we’ve achieved today creates a platform for the struggle for reparative justice,” he stated.
He urged stakeholders not to relent following the diplomatic success, stressing the need to build momentum toward concrete outcomes, including reparations, formal apologies, and broader justice measures.
“We must take this success and begin to work so that those who denied our ancestors their humanity, those who denied our ancestors their dignity, can accept the truth that this is what happened,” he said.
President Mahama also pushed back against attempts to downplay or rewrite the history of slavery, insisting that the UN’s decision affirms its severity.
“Today we’ve accepted that this was a grave crime against humanity — the gravest indeed,” he added.
The President further called for sustained unity among African nations and the global African diaspora, noting that the achievement was a collective victory rather than a national one.
“This victory is not for Ghana. We did it for the whole of Africa and all people of African descent. If we keep this coalition, we will take the next steps together,” he said.
He expressed confidence that continued collaboration would ultimately lead to the restoration of the dignity and humanity of enslaved ancestors.
“Today’s victory is to ensure that we do not forget, and will never forget. As long as this resolution has been passed, our ancestors will never, ever be forgotten,” he concluded.
