President John Dramani Mahama has urged all African Union (AU) Member States to co-sponsor a landmark resolution acknowledging the historical injustices of the transatlantic slave trade, describing it as a matter of moral courage rather than division.
Speaking at a press conference during the AU summit, President Mahama emphasised that while the adoption of the resolution would not erase history, it would formally recognise the profound crimes of trafficking in enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement—crimes he said were foundational in shaping the modern world.
“The trafficking in enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement were foundational crimes that have shaped the modern world,” he stated. “And their consequences continue to manifest in structural inequality, racial discrimination, and economic disparity.”
President Mahama stressed that the resolution is about confronting historical truths with moral courage.
“Recognition is not about division. It is about moral courage,” he added, highlighting the importance of acknowledging the enduring impact of slavery on African societies and the African diaspora.
He called on all Member States of the AU to support the resolution, noting that Ghana would continue to lead sustained engagement on the issue following its adoption.
The Ghanaian leader underlined that the adoption of the resolution would not mark the end of the process.
Instead, it would initiate ongoing dialogue involving the United Nations Secretary-General, the African Union Commission, relevant UN bodies, and interested Member States.
“This is about a sustained dialogue on reparatory justice and healing,” President Mahama said.
He added that the resolution forms part of Ghana’s broader commitment to address the historical legacies of slavery while seeking restorative measures to mitigate the structural inequalities that persist today.
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