We came to seek healing, not division – Prez Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama, of Ghana, has emphasized that Ghana's pursuit of reparations for the transatlantic slave trade is aimed at fostering healing, rather than causing division. Mahama made this statement during the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he reflected on the progress made since his pledge a year earlier.

In his address, Mahama recounted the solemn commitment Ghana made at the United Nations, representing Africa and the global African diaspora, to achieve international recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as the most egregious crime against humanity. Despite some concerns that this discussion might reignite old wounds, Mahama asserted that the objective was healing.

True healing, he argued, necessitates acknowledging the truth of the atrocities committed and leading to reparations. Mahama lamented that for centuries, the tragedy of the transatlantic slave trade had been described in passive terms, suggesting the millions of African men, women, and children vanished without a trace. However, he clarified that they were forcibly taken, sold, and exploited, with their labor constructing the Western world's cities, industries, and financial systems, while the African continent suffered depopulation, family disruption, and intergenerational trauma.

On March 25, 2026, the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, Ghana submitted Resolution A/RES/80/250 to the UN Assembly. Mahama noted that 123 nations voted in affirmation of the fundamental truth that the transatlantic slave trade and chattel enslavement were the gravest crimes against humanity.