President John Dramani Mahama has called on the international community to take a firm moral stance in confronting the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, urging support for efforts to restore dignity to its victims.
Addressing the United Nations General Assembly during the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, Mahama stressed that the moment demands accountability and reflection.
“Let it be recorded that when history beckoned, we did what was right for the memory of the millions who suffered the indignity of slavery,” he stated.
He underscored the scale of the tragedy, noting that millions of Africans were enslaved over centuries, and emphasized the importance of remembrance through education, history, and global dialogue.
“Through these activities, we do more than remember. We document and educate; we gain a greater perspective; we find the delicate balance of learning from history so we do not repeat it,” he said.
Mahama described the proposed resolution declaring the slave trade the gravest crime against humanity as a product of extensive global consultation aimed at grounding the process in “truth, compassion, and moral conscience.”
He added that its adoption would serve as “a safeguard against forgetting.”
Calling for moral clarity, he urged nations not to remain indifferent in the face of historical injustice. Quoting Theodore Roosevelt, he said, “With a great moral issue involved, neutrality does not serve righteousness; for to be neutral between right and wrong is to serve wrong.”
He also invoked the words of Martin Luther King Jr., reminding the Assembly that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
Mahama concluded with a call for collective action and moral responsibility, “On this beautiful day in March, we are called to stand on the right side of history… Let our vote on this resolution restore their dignity and humanity.”
The address reinforces Ghana’s push for global recognition of the enduring impact of slavery and renewed commitment to justice and healing.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
