'Akufo-Addo, Mahama not being truthful about slave trade narrative' - Obiri Boahen
Nana Obiri Boahen criticised Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and John Dramani Mahama on Thursday, March 26, 2026, on Okay FM, accusing them of failing to present the "full historical account of the transatlantic slave trade." He argued that African leaders often focus on the atrocities of the transatlantic slave trade while overlooking earlier forms of slavery involving Arab traders.
Obiri Boahen stated that before the transatlantic slave trade, "the Arabs were already buying slaves from Africa to their countries." He claimed that when European colonisers arrived in Africa, they "encountered the blacks, they realised how strong they were and how resourceful they could be and so they decided to bring them to America to be able to operate their businesses and that was the beginning of the slave trade." He also said that "the first 80's slaves that were taken from Europe to America, were not brought directly from Africa to America but were brought from Europe to America." Slave traders exchanged goods like "mirrors, ammunitions, drinks to be given to the chiefs and slave leaders to buy the slaves." Obiri Boahen stated that "even amongst ourselves as Africans, we were treating our own people inhumanely" before the transatlantic slave trade.
Obiri Boahen shared the view that the slave trade became unprofitable and "gradually by 1808, the slave trade was abolished" after the discovery of "gold, ivory, grains."
Quick Summary
Nana Obiri Boahen has taken aim at Akufo-Addo and Mahama, regarding their accounts of the transatlantic slave trade- raising questions about historical accuracy. He suggests a significant piece of the narrative is being glossed over, but why does he think so?
Summary - read the full story for complete context.
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