Dr. Apaak hails Mahama’s role in UN recognition of transatlantic slave trade as ‘greatest crime against humanity’

Deputy Minister for Education, Dr.  Clement Apaak, has praised President John Dramani Mahama for his leadership following a landmark United Nations resolution on slavery.

Dr. Apaak lauded the President’s role in advancing global recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity.

“Congratulations, Mr. President. Your positive impact on our nation, our continent, and our humanity will be remembered for generations to come,” he wrote on Facebook.

His remarks come a day after the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/80/L.48, formally designating the Transatlantic Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement as “the gravest crime against humanity.”

The resolution, passed on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, secured overwhelming support, with 123 member states voting in favour. Argentina, Israel, and the United States opposed the motion, while 52 countries abstained.

Ghana spearheaded the initiative with strong backing from the African Union, marking a significant moment in the global push for historical accountability and justice.

The move reflects a shift from symbolic acknowledgment of slavery toward concrete measures aimed at addressing its enduring legacy.

Ghana’s leadership underscores its longstanding advocacy on issues of racial justice and historical redress. From initiatives like the “Year of Return” to sustained diplomatic engagement at the United Nations, the country has consistently positioned itself as a leading voice on matters of African heritage and reconciliation.

The resolution goes beyond recognition, calling for reparatory justice in multiple forms. It emphasizes the need for truth-telling, institutional accountability, and structural reforms to address inequalities linked to the legacy of slavery.

President Mahama, addressing a high-level forum on reparatory justice in New York on March 24, described the resolution as a critical milestone.

“This resolution is a pathway to healing and reparative justice. This resolution is a safeguard against forgetting,” he stated.

Dr. Apaak’s commendation aligns with growing domestic and international acknowledgment of Ghana’s diplomatic efforts, as momentum builds around global conversations on reparations and systemic transformation tied to the history of enslavement.