The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has passed a significant resolution officially classifying slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as one of the most profound injustices committed against humankind.
Spearheaded by Ghana, the resolution was described by President John Mahama as necessary, noting that the legacy of slavery, including racial inequality, continues to persist.
The transatlantic slave trade represented the largest forced migration of people in recorded history.
Historians estimate that between 10 million and 15 million Africans—a number comparable to the populations of countries such as Sierra Leone, Israel, or Sweden—were forcibly transported across the Atlantic between 1500 and 1900.
However, experts argue that these figures significantly underestimate the actual number of Africans who were enslaved, died, or were displaced as a result of the trade.
In the resolution adopted on Wednesday, Ghana urged UN member states to consider issuing an apology for the transatlantic slave trade and to contribute financially to a yet-to-be-defined reparations fund.
The motion was approved with 123 votes in favour and three against, cast by the United States, Israel, and Argentina.
Earlier, Mahama “criticised” the US for “gradually normalising” the erasure of Black history.
The United Kingdom and members of the European Union were among the 52 countries that abstained from the vote.
The resolution received strong support from the African Union (AU) and the Caribbean Community.
This development marks a diplomatic win for Ghana and the AU, which have been pushing for the recognition of slavery and colonialism as crimes against humanity, alongside demands for restorative justice, the return of cultural artefacts, and meaningful economic reforms to address the enduring consequences of these historical injustices.