The recent decision by the United Nations General Assembly to classify the transatlantic slave trade and racialised chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity is being hailed as a significant milestone in global justice and historical acknowledgment.
Former President John Dramani Mahama, reacting to the development, described the resolution as a powerful affirmation by the international community of the immense suffering endured by millions of Africans.
In a statement, he emphasised that the achievement was the result of sustained global cooperation, led by key alliances such as the African Union and CARICOM, alongside support from advocates worldwide.
Mahama noted that the resolution holds particular significance as it coincides with efforts to honour the memory of ancestors who were forcibly taken and enslaved. He underscored that the recognition by a majority of nations reinforces the need to preserve the dignity and humanity of those affected.
Referencing historical resistance to oppression, Mahama invoked the legacy of François-Dominique Toussaint L’Ouverture, a central figure in Haiti’s liberation, to stress the importance of unity in confronting historical injustices.
He called for continued global solidarity in advancing efforts to acknowledge past wrongs and promote justice, urging nations to remain united in restoring the dignity of those impacted by slavery.
