Ghana is urging the United Nations to take action on compensation tied to the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, as member states prepare to vote on a landmark resolution at the United Nations General Assembly.
Ghana Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, described slavery as the “most horrendous crime that took place in the history of mankind” in an interview with BBC ahead of the vote.
The resolution, led by Ghana, calls on member states to formally recognize the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity and to consider measures including apologies and contributions to a reparations fund.
The proposal before the United Nations General Assembly urges countries to acknowledge the lasting effects of slavery and support initiatives aimed at justice and historical redress.
Supporters, including the African Union, say the resolution is a step toward addressing centuries of exploitation and inequality rooted in the slave trade.
Some countries, including the United Kingdom, have long rejected calls to pay reparations, arguing that current institutions should not be held responsible for historical injustices.
Despite the resistance, Ghana and its allies say the resolution focuses on recognition, healing and practical support for affected communities.
Ablakwa said the demand for compensation is not for personal gain but to fund initiatives that benefit descendants of enslaved Africans.
“We want justice for the victims and causes to be supported, educational and endowment funds, skills training funds,” he said.
Historians estimate that between 1500 and 1800, about 12 million to 15 million Africans were captured and transported to the Americas under the transatlantic slave trade. More than two million people are believed to have died during the journey.
Ablakwa said the structures and inequalities created during that period persist today.
“Many generations continue to suffer the exclusion and racism because of the transatlantic slave trade,” he said.
Ghana remains a key voice in reparations advocacy. Along its coastline, forts that once held enslaved Africans still stand as reminders of the trade’s brutal history.
The resolution also calls for the return of cultural artefacts taken during the colonial era. Ghanaian officials say many items of cultural and spiritual importance remain in foreign institutions.
Ablakwa said returning the artefacts would help restore cultural identity and address historical injustices.
Ghana President, John Dramani Mahama, described the resolution as historic and said it would act as a safeguard against forgetting the suffering caused by slavery.
If adopted, the resolution could mark a significant step in global discussions on accountability and the long-term impact of slavery.
