FULL TEXT: Read Ghana's UN resolution on slavery that defied the West
John Dramani Mahama championed a resolution on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at the United Nations General Assembly. The resolution declared "the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity."
The resolution, numbered A/80/L.48, was presented to the UN plenary. It received support from 122 out of 193 UN countries. The resolution recognizes that for 400 years, the trafficking of enslaved Africans involved the forced capture, commodification, and transportation of millions of African men, women, and children. It acknowledges African jurisprudence, such as the Kouroukan Fouga (Manden Charter) of 1235, which established that everybody has a right to life and to the preservation of physical integrity. The resolution affirms the importance of addressing historical wrongs affecting Africans and people of African descent and emphasizes that claims for reparations represent a concrete step towards remedying historical wrongs.
The United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), and the European Union (EU) had issues with the motion, including the description of the slavery of Africans as "the gravest crime against humanity," and the demand for reparations to African countries.
Quick Summary
Ghana, under President Mahama, championed a UN resolution regarding the enslavement of Africans - despite opposition from Western powers. The resolution touches on historical wrongs and justice, but its full impact remains to be seen.
Summary - read the full story for complete context.
Image: GhanaWeb
GhanaFront aggregates news from trusted sources. Click to read the original article.
Keywords
Explore related tagsMore from GhanaWeb
Related Stories
More from Politics
Why US voted against Ghana's resolution to declare slavery a crime against humanity
Why did the US vote against a resolution declaring slavery a crime against humanity?
1d ago•4 min read
United Nations slavery resolution a win for Ghana and Africa - Afia Korankyewaa
What reparative measures does Afia Korankyewaa suggest should be taken to address the damages of slavery?
18h ago•2 min read
Beyond the Vote: Why Ghana Must Turn the UN Reparations Resolution Into Concrete Action
Ghana now faces pressure to turn a UN resolution into something concrete, but how?
15h ago•2 min read
Why implementing UN reparations resolution will be difficult - Prof Appiagyei-Atuah details
A law professor cautions that global powers' stance on the UN resolution on reparatory justice may pose implementation challenges.
19h ago•3 min read
