UN adopts Ghana-led resolution declaring slavery a ‘gravest injustice against humanity’

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted a landmark resolution recognising slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as among the gravest injustices in human history.

The motion, spearheaded by Ghana, underscores the enduring legacy of slavery, noting that its consequences — including persistent racial inequalities — continue to shape societies today. Ghana’s President, John Mahama, described the resolution as a necessary step toward acknowledging historical wrongs and their modern-day impact.

The transatlantic slave trade remains the largest forced movement of people in recorded history. Historians estimate that between 10 and 15 million Africans were forcibly transported across the Atlantic between the 16th and 19th centuries — a figure comparable to the current populations of countries such as Sierra Leone, Israel, and Sweden.

However, experts argue that this estimate does not fully capture the scale of lives lost and communities devastated through enslavement, displacement, and violence.

As part of the resolution, Ghana called on UN member states to consider issuing formal apologies for their roles in the slave trade and to contribute to a reparations fund, although specific details of such a fund were not outlined.

The resolution passed with 123 countries voting in favour, while the United States, Israel, and Argentina opposed it. Fifty-two countries, including the United Kingdom and members of the European Union, abstained.

Ahead of the vote, Mahama criticised what he described as a gradual erasure of Black history, particularly in the United States.

The resolution received strong backing from the African Union (AU) and the Caribbean Community, both of which have long advocated for recognition of slavery and colonialism as crimes against humanity.

They are also pushing for broader measures, including reparations, the return of looted cultural artefacts, and financial reforms aimed at addressing the lasting effects of these historical injustices.

Its adoption marks a significant diplomatic milestone for Ghana and its allies, reinforcing ongoing global calls for accountability and restorative justice.