President John Dramani Mahama has characterised the transatlantic slave trade together with the racialised system of chattel enslavement inflicted upon Africans as the greatest atrocity ever perpetrated against humanity while calling upon the international community to confront the enduring consequences of slavery through historical honesty, justice, accountability and meaningful redress.
Delivering an address before the Jamaican Parliament during his official State Visit to Jamaica on Tuesday, August 4, President Mahama declared that confronting the painful realities of history remains indispensable for constructing a future anchored in justice, mutual respect and genuine equality. He emphasised that although the events of the past cannot be reversed, they can and must be openly recognised because truthful acknowledgement provides the essential foundation for reconciliation, fairness and lasting progress.
The President affirmed that commemorating the shared history between Africa and the Caribbean must be accompanied by sincerity, integrity and an unwavering commitment to justice. According to him, societies can only cultivate a more equitable future by accepting the historical realities that shaped present day inequalities and by ensuring that those realities are neither ignored nor diminished.
President Mahama recalled what he described as a recent declaration by the United Nations recognising the transatlantic slave trade together with the racialised chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime ever committed against humanity. He argued that the abolition of slavery did not erase its devastating consequences because its legacy continues to influence contemporary patterns of inequality, wealth distribution, opportunity and socio economic development across numerous societies around the world.
He explained that the destructive effects of slavery have persisted across generations and continue to affect descendants of enslaved Africans through structural disparities that remain deeply embedded within the global system. For that reason, he maintained that the pursuit of reparatory justice is not merely symbolic but represents an essential responsibility grounded in historical truth, accountability and recognition of the profound injustices inflicted upon millions of Africans and their descendants.
President Mahama stressed that sustained advancement of the reparatory justice campaign must be inspired by a collective commitment to accountability, recognition of fundamental rights, acknowledgement of historical injustices and acceptance of the continuing consequences arising from centuries of enslavement. He stated that these principles should guide the international community toward establishing a more just, inclusive and equitable global order for present and future generations.
The President also conveyed Ghana’s profound gratitude to the Government and people of Jamaica for their steadfast backing of Ghana’s reparatory justice initiative at the United Nations. He praised Jamaica for its significant contribution toward the successful adoption of United Nations Resolution A RES 79 193 and further commended the country’s invaluable participation in the Accra Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice, describing the partnership between both nations as an important pillar in advancing international advocacy on the issue.
President Mahama stated that Ghana together with Jamaica continues to collaborate closely to ensure that descendants of enslaved Africans receive the recognition they deserve while also securing a meaningful place in shaping a more equitable and inclusive international community. He said both countries remain united in ensuring that those who endured some of history’s greatest injustices are neither forgotten nor excluded from determining a fairer global future.
He further indicated that the campaign for reparatory justice ultimately represents a struggle founded upon hope rather than resentment. According to him, the objective is to guarantee that future generations inherit a world where historical truth is openly acknowledged, human dignity is consistently protected and justice serves as the enduring foundation for peaceful, free and prosperous societies. He affirmed that this shared vision continues to unite Ghana and Jamaica and remains a commitment that both nations will pursue with unwavering determination.
President Mahama additionally urged the international community to appreciate the history of people of African descent through a broader and more balanced perspective instead of limiting their story solely to oppression and suffering. He emphasised that the African experience equally embodies resilience, excellence, perseverance and remarkable achievement.
He observed that people of African descent have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of global civilisation through the establishment of powerful civilisations, courageous struggles for justice and freedom, groundbreaking innovations that transformed science and technology, artistic excellence that enriched cultures across continents and visionary leadership that inspired nations to embrace liberty, self determination and human progress. According to President Mahama, these enduring achievements deserve equal recognition alongside the historical injustices that continue to shape the global conversation on reparatory justice.
