Slavery was the most horrendous crime that took place in the history of mankind, Ghana's foreign minister has stated ahead of a historic vote at the UN General Assembly.
Member states are poised to vote on a resolution—led by Ghana—that characterizes the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity. This proposal calls on UN member states to consider issuing apologies for the slave trade and contributing to a reparations fund.
Resistance is expected from various states, including the UK, which has traditionally opposed reparations, arguing that contemporary institutions should not be held liable for historical wrongdoings.
Proponents of the resolution, including the African Union, argue that this initiative is vital for healing and establishing justice.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana's foreign minister, affirmed on BBC's Newsday: We are demanding compensation—but let us be clear, African leaders are not asking for money for themselves. We want justice for the victims and causes to be supported, educational and endowment funds, skills training funds.
Ablakwa emphasized that the resolution aims to acknowledge historical facts rather than elevate one group's suffering over another's.
The transatlantic slave trade saw approximately 12-15 million Africans captured and transported to the Americas, with over two million estimated to have died during the journey.
Long a prominent advocate for reparations, Ghana additionally calls for the return of cultural artifacts taken during the colonial period. Ablakwa asserted the need to reclaim these items, stating, All those artefacts looted for many centuries ought to be returned.
President John Dramani Mahama labeled the resolution historic and a crucial measure against forgetting the atrocities of the past.
