The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has described the adoption of the United Nations resolution on the transatlantic slave trade as “an emphatic victory for justice,” saying it restores the dignity and humanity of Africans and people of African descent.
Speaking in the United States after the United Nations approved the resolution on Wednesday, March 25, Mr Ablakwa said the decision represents a defining moment in the global quest for truth and justice.
“This is an emphatic victory for justice and our ancestors. Africans and all people of African descent are today honoured that our humanity and our dignity have been restored,” he said.
The resolution, which secured overwhelming support from 123 member states, formally recognises the trafficking and enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.
Mr Ablakwa noted that the outcome goes beyond the passage of a document, describing it as a moral statement by the international community.
“With the adoption of this resolution, we have not simply passed a text; we have affirmed a truth. We have chosen remembrance over silence, dignity over erasure, and shared humanity over division,” he stated.
He expressed appreciation to member states that supported the resolution, as well as those who participated in the process in a spirit of dialogue and reflection, despite differing views.
“The adoption of this text is not an arrival at the destination, but a major step in our ongoing journey,” he said, adding that Ghana and its partners remain committed to continued engagement with all countries.
According to him, the resolution marks a turning point in how the world confronts the legacy of slavery, insisting that its scale and enduring consequences demand recognition at the highest level.
“We have affirmed that the trafficking of enslaved Africans and their racialised chattel enslavement is the gravest crime against humanity… so that we can move forward in healing and ensure such a crime never happens again,” he said.
Mr Ablakwa stressed that the resolution is not intended to assign blame but to create space for truth, education, and honest global dialogue.
“It is not about reopening old wounds, but ensuring they are neither forgotten nor denied,” he added.
He further noted that the resolution opens the door for sustained global engagement on reparatory justice, describing it as a broader framework for healing, restoration, and partnership.
Calling on member states to act, he urged countries to pursue inclusive and good-faith dialogue on reparations and to confront the structural inequalities rooted in slavery.
“The work of justice does not end with remembrance,” he said. “We cannot change history, but we can change how we remember it and in doing so, we can change what we carry forward.”
He added that the global decision signals a collective commitment to a more just and inclusive future.
“Today, the world has chosen to remember with purpose, justice, and equity. Let that purpose guide us toward a future that is more just, more inclusive, and more profoundly human,” he said.
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