Ghana has achieved a historic diplomatic victory at the United Nations General Assembly with the adoption of Resolution A/80/L.48, which declares the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement as the gravest crime against humanity. The resolution was overwhelmingly supported by 123 Member States.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, in a Facebook post, expressed profound gratitude to the UN and the global coalition that backed Ghana’s initiative. “We are immensely and eternally grateful to the UN, all 123 Member States who voted emphatically for Ghana’s Resolution and express limitless appreciation to our broad coalition of people of good conscience across the world,” he wrote.
The minister described the resolution as a monumental step in restoring the dignity of Africans and their descendants, noting that it delivers long-awaited justice to the more than 12.5 million victims of the transatlantic slave trade. He commended colleagues at Ghana’s missions in New York, Addis Ababa, and Geneva, as well as technical experts and international partners, for their contributions to the reparatory justice process.
Ablakwa also praised President John Mahama for what he called “extraordinary leadership and unwavering commitment” in steering the historic effort. He concluded his message with a declaration that “Reparatory Justice is the winner.”
The resolution marks a significant milestone in global recognition of the atrocities of slavery and strengthens calls for reparations and restorative justice for affected communities worldwide.
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