UN adopts Ghana-led resolution on slavery despite Western opposition
Ghana has successfully secured the adoption of a United Nations resolution recognising the transatlantic slave trade as the “gravest crime against humanity” and calling for reparations, despite opposition from several Western nations, including the United States and members of the European Union.
The resolution, passed on Wednesday at the UN General Assembly, received the backing of 123 countries. Three countries, including the United States and Israel, voted against it, while 52 abstained, among them EU member states. Although not legally binding, the resolution carries significant political weight.
Ghana argued that the motion was necessary to address the enduring legacy of slavery, during which at least 12.5 million Africans were forcibly taken between the 15th and 19th centuries. According to Ghana, the effects of this historical injustice continue to manifest in present-day racial inequalities.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Ablakwa said the resolution underscores the need for accountability. Supporting this view, Justin Hansford described the move as a historic milestone, noting that it represents the most decisive step the UN has taken in formally recognising slavery as a crime against humanity and advancing calls for reparations. He emphasised that it marked the first time such an issue had been brought to a vote on the UN floor.
Addressing the Assembly, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for stronger global action to confront historical injustices. Currently, the Netherlands stands as the only European nation to have formally apologised for its role in the slave trade.
U.S. representative Dan Negrea criticised the resolution, describing it as an attempt to use historical grievances to justify the redistribution of modern resources to groups only distantly connected to those affected.
Ghana’s position has also drawn scrutiny, with some critics pointing to perceived inconsistencies between its advocacy for historical justice internationally and its domestic legislative agenda.
Despite the pushback, African and Caribbean countries continue to advocate for the establishment of a UN reparations tribunal. Ablakwa expressed optimism that the resolution could serve as a foundation for a comprehensive global reparative framework.
“History does not disappear when ignored, truth does not weaken when delayed, crime does not rot, and justice does not expire with time,” he said.
Source: Africafeeds.com
