President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday hailed a United Nations resolution declaring the Transatlantic Slave Trade “the gravest crime against humanity” as a pivotal step toward reparative justice for millions affected by centuries of historical injustice.
Speaking at a High-Level Special Event on Reparatory Justice at UN Headquarters, themed “Reparatory Justice for the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and the Racialised Chattel Enslavement of Africans,” Mr. Mahama emphasized that the resolution formally recognizes the suffering of more than 12.5 million individuals whose lives were upended over four centuries.
“This resolution allows us as a global community to bear witness to the plight of more than 12.5 million men, women, and children whose homes, community names, families, dreams, and futures were stolen over the course of 400 years,” he said.
Mr. Mahama framed his remarks as reflecting not only Ghana’s stance but also that of Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the wider diaspora.
“I speak these words today not only for the people of Ghana, but also for the rest of Africa and the Caribbean, Latin America, and the entire community of the diaspora, and indeed all people of good conscience throughout the world,” he said.
He described the resolution as a significant moral and historical milestone. “This resolution is a pathway to healing and reparative justice. This resolution is a safeguard against forgetting,” Mr. Mahama said, underscoring the growing international focus on acknowledging historical injustices and exploring pathways for reparations.
Source:TheDotNews