Resolution on transatlantic slave trade, slavery at UN - Ablakwa rallies colleagues for support

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has rallied his colleague ministers across Africa to support Ghana’s effort to table a motion on slavery at the UN next month on behalf of the AU.

“Ghana, on behalf of the AU, intends to table a resolution at the UN General Assembly on March 25, this year, seeking the formal and universal recognition of the transatlantic slave trade and slavery as the gravest crime against humanity.

“Ghana formally requests the unflinching support and co-sponsorship of all AU member states for this resolution,” he said.

Mr Ablakwa was addressing his colleagues at the 48th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs at the AU Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, yesterday.  

Summit

The event was attended by diplomats, representatives of civil society organisations and journalists across Africa.

The summit would also feature the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU, which would be attended by President John Dramani Mahama on February 14 and 15 this year.

The President is expected to address the assembly and hold bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit.

Unity

The minister said the government had worked extensively with experts in the AU, the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) and the larger diaspora community.

He said it was time Africa united for the common goal of securing reparative justice.

“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.

“We seek not only recognition, but a global legal framework that paves the way for healing, accountability, restitution and restorative justice,” Mr Ablakwa added.

Rationale

The minister further said: “For centuries, the transatlantic slave trade decimated our populations and laid the foundations for global economic inequalities that persist till today.

“Ghana is honoured to have championed the 2025 theme of the year on reparations, and we welcome the recommendation of the 7th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting to transition this momentum into the Decade of Reparations, from 2026 to 2035.

“It is imperative that we remain steadfast in our pursuit of justice, recognising that the scars of colonialism and slavery continue to impact our development trajectory,” he added.

Mr Ablakwa commended the effort of Ghana’s neighbour, Togo, for its initiative towards correcting the distortions in the map of Africa, an effort he described as “an essential step in reclaiming Africa’s true global image”.

He said the initiative led by Togo was consistent with the Accra Declaration on Reparations and the AU Assembly's decision on reparative justice.
 

Concerns

The minister also condemned the rising incidents of conflicts, activities of terrorists and violent extremists on the continent.

“Ghana would also deplores the rising incidents of conflict and insecurity in our region.

It is time for us to silence the guns, and it is time to commit to lasting peace. 

“We are one people and we shall unite and pursue the development of our continent and the prosperity of our people,” he said.