Ghana honours enslaved ancestors in New York ahead of UN reparations bid

A wreath-laying ceremony has been held in New York to honour Africans taken from the continent during the transatlantic slave trade, as Ghana prepares to present a reparations proposal at the United Nations.

Speaking at the ceremony on Tuesday, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said more than 14,000 Africans are buried at the site, describing the gathering as a moment to reaffirm their memory and dignity.

According to him, President Mahama is leading efforts on behalf of Africans and people of African descent to demand reparatory justice at the United Nations.

He is expected to present a resolution at the UN General Assembly seeking to declare the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity.

Mr Ablakwa said President Mahama chose to visit the burial site ahead of the presentation to honour the ancestors and seek their blessing before proceeding to the United Nations.

He recalled that more than 12.5 million Africans were forcibly removed from the continent through what is known as the Door of No Return, adding that the victims were stripped of their dignity and treated as property solely because of the colour of their skin.

He noted that the ceremony was a reaffirmation that the victims would not be forgotten.

“Despite attempts to erase their memory, the legacy of those enslaved endures, and their dignity remains upheld,” he added.

He expressed appreciation to New York City authorities for their support, saying cooperation from city officials had assisted preparations for the presentation at the United Nations.

The minister noted that Ghana is leading the call for reparatory justice because many enslaved Africans passed through forts and castles along its coast, placing a moral responsibility on the country to take a leading role in the process.

He expressed confidence that the international community would support the resolution, saying the effort would proceed with what they described as the blessings of their ancestors.