Following his hard-hitting presentation at the just ended United Nation’s General Assembly (UNGA), in New York (NY), in the United States (US), President John Dramani Mahama has announced his future plans.
According to the President, he has sent notice to the UN to file that slavery which happened hundreds of years ago against the black race, is the greatest crime committed against humanity.
The President, who revealed this on Saturday October 18 said that he plans to do this next year, is also rallying support from the Caribbean nations.
In a post on social media with photographs of him and the Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell, Mahama said he had this conversation with his counterpart while having a garden conversation with him.
The PM was in Ghana for a 2-day official visit,
As the African Union (AU) champion for Reparations, the President said “I see this cause not as a plea for charity, but as a demand for justice and restoration”.
“At the UN General Assembly this year, I sent a notice that Ghana intends to file a motion at the United Nations next year to declare slavery as one of the greatest crimes against humanity, As the African Union Champion for Reparations, I see this cause not as a plea for charity, but as a demand for justice and restoration”, he said.
He additionally used the opportunity to publicly court the support of the Prime Minister and other colleagues in the Caribbean when the time finally comes.
“Mr Prime Minister, I know I can count on your support and the support of our colleagues in the Caribbean and the African Union to support this motion”, Mahama added.
Earlier speaking at a luncheon at the Presidency, in honour of the Grenadian Prime Minister, the President said the issue of reparations for Africa and the people of African descent holds deep meaning for both Ghana and Grenada.
“Mr Prime Minister, I know I can count on your support and the support of our colleagues in the Caribbean and the African Union to support this motion.”
He said, the African Union’s 2025 theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”, rightly reflects a collective struggle.
“Let us build on our shared history to foster shared prosperity founded on trust, cooperation, and a deep belief in the common destiny of our peoples.”
He emphasized that Africa’s demand for reparative justice is rooted in historical truth, moral clarity, and its steadfast dedication to dignity.
Prime Minister Mitchell, who traced his roots to Ghana, said his visit reinforces the long-standing bilateral relations between what he called the two ‘Gs’- Ghana and Grenada.
He said Grenada and, by extension, the Caribbean are deeply committed.
“It is not just about economic justice. It is not just about reversing the significant negative legacy of colonisation and neocolonisation, and in some cases the imperialism that continues. But it is first and foremost about our human dignity,” Prime Minister Mitchell said.
He assured President Mahama that Grenada and the Caribbean stand ready to support the resolution.
“We stand ready to continue the conversation and the fight for the acknowledgement that slavery, the transatlantic slave trade, is, in fact, perhaps the worst human crime that has been committed against humanity. And that we should recommit to ensure that it never happens again.”
By Gifty Boateng