The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has hinted that Ghana will make a strong case on reparative justice with the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
Speaking on Wednesday at the 48th Executive Council meeting of the African Union (AU) in Ethiopia, the Minister said Ghana will formally appeal to the UNGA to declare the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery as the Worst Crime Against Humanity. He said they are not only seeking recognition but also a legal framework that will pave the way for healing, accountability, and restorative justice.
He used the platform to request the unflinching support and cooperation of the member states, saying, “By standing together at the UN, we signal to the world that Africa will no longer allow the scale of its historical suffering to be minimised.”
He further argued that the Transatlantic Slave Trade decimated the continent’s population and laid the foundations for global inequalities that persist today.
The Minister said they needed to remain steadfast in their pursuit of justice, urging them to recognise how the scars of colonialism and slavery continue to impact the development trajectory on the continent.
He also touched on the 39th Ordinary Session of the AU Summit, saying Ghana fully aligns with its theme, which focuses on “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.” He observed that water is not just a resource, but the lifeblood of continental and climate resilience.
David Quaye, ISD
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
