President John Mahama has secured a significant diplomatic breakthrough after the United Nations General Assembly adopted a landmark resolution recognising the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity” and calling for reparative justice.
The motion, led by Ghana and passed on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, received overwhelming support from 123 member states. Three countries—the United States, Argentina and Israel—voted against it, while 52 others, including the United Kingdom and several European Union nations, abstained.
The resolution urges countries to engage in structured dialogue and take concrete steps toward addressing the lasting social, economic and cultural consequences of slavery.
It also encourages formal apologies, the return of cultural artefacts, and reforms to global systems to ensure fairness for Africans and people of African descent. However, it does not specify financial reparations.
Presenting the motion on behalf of the African Union, President Mahama described the resolution as a moral obligation. “Let it be recorded that when history beckoned, we did what was right for the memory of the millions who suffered the indignity of slavery. Let our vote on this resolution restore their dignity and humanity,” he said.
He further stressed that neutrality on such issues perpetuates injustice, adding: “With a great moral issue involved, neutrality does not serve righteousness; for to be neutral between right and wrong is to serve wrong.”
António Guterres, UN Secretary-General whiles praising the development emphasised that much stronger measures are needed to break down entrenched racism and inequality, calling on nations to actively confront persistent injustices and foster more inclusive societies.
