Ghana to push UN to declare slavery gravest crime against humanity — Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana will soon submit a motion to the United Nations seeking to declare slavery and the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity.

According to him, the move forms part of Ghana’s broader push for historical justice and recognition of the atrocities committed during the era of slavery, in collaboration with partners across Africa and the African diaspora.

The President made the announcement during Ghana’s Independence Day celebrations, which were attended by the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Terrance Michael Drew, who served as the special guest of honour alongside his wife, Diani Jinesha Prince-Drew.

President Mahama said Dr Drew’s presence reflected the deep historical ties between Ghana and the Caribbean, noting that both regions share ancestral connections rooted in the painful history of the transatlantic slave trade.

He referred to the slave dungeons at Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle, which served as major departure points for enslaved Africans transported across the Middle Passage.

“The dungeons of Cape Coast and Elmina castles remind us of the dark chapters of our history when millions of Africans were forcibly transported across the Middle Passage to the New World,” President Mahama said.

Despite this painful history, he noted that the African diaspora has demonstrated extraordinary resilience and creativity, making significant contributions to global culture and society.

“Later this month, Ghana will submit a motion to the United Nations declaring slavery and the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity,” he said.

President Mahama added that the initiative represents a long overdue call for justice and restitution, stressing that Ghana—recognised as the first sub-Saharan African nation to gain independence—will once again take a leading role in the global campaign for dignity and restoration.