President John Dramani Mahama has outlined the historical and moral basis for Ghana’s call for reparations, describing the transatlantic slave trade as a defining injustice with lasting consequences.
In his message ahead of the UN session, he pointed to centuries of advocacy, from early African resistance to movements like the Haitian Revolution, as part of a continuous demand for justice.
“The transatlantic slave trade disrupted societies and extracted value on an unprecedented scale,” he said, noting that its effects are still visible in global patterns of inequality.
Mahama also referenced international efforts such as the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, which recognised slavery as a crime against humanity, but said more needs to be done.
“A crime of this magnitude calls not only for remembrance but for responsibility,” he stated, emphasizing that addressing the past is necessary for building a fairer global future.
