Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama intends to submit a proposal\nbacked by 40 African Union member states to the United Nations in March.\nAccording to Mahama, the proposed resolution is grounded in a strong\nlegal basis and an \u201cindisputable moral obligation\u201d.<\/p>\n
The resolution is merely the first step, he said on the sidelines of\nthe African Union Summit in Addis Ababa last weekend. With broad support\nfrom the African Union, the historical truth about the transatlantic\nslave trade must finally be recognised as the most serious crime against\nhumanity.<\/p>\n
The Slave Trade: A Tragedy in Human History<\/strong><\/p>\n Historians agree that the slave trade between the 15th and 19th\ncenturies \u2014 the forced displacement of millions of people from Africa to\nNorth, Central, and South America \u2014 constitutes one of the great\ntragedies in human history. It is estimated that more than 15 million\nmen, women, and children were forcibly displaced over approximately 400\nyears.<\/p>\n Other sources cite between 12 and 12.8 million people. Around 10.7\nmillion of them reached the Americas alive, whilst approximately 1.5 to\n2 million perished during the voyage.<\/p>\n In Addis Ababa, Mahama recalled those who leapt from ships, choosing\ndeath, or who were thrown overboard when sick and weakened.<\/p>\n Historical and Legal Validity<\/strong><\/p>\n Ghanaian human rights expert Kojo Asante, from the Ghana Center for\nDemocratic Development, described the initiative as one possessing\n\u201chistorical and legal validity\u201d. In an interview, he emphasised that the\ntransatlantic slave trade inflicted deep wounds on affected nations, the\neffects of which are still felt today. For a long time, these nations\nhave sought recognition or at least an apology from the perpetrators of\nthe past. For some countries, this has been a political struggle\nspanning decades.<\/p>\n In Ghana, the issue has long been on the agenda. Mahama is not the\nfirst president to support reparation demands. His predecessor, Nana\nAkufo-Addo, also championed the cause, Asante noted.<\/p>\n What About Reparations?<\/strong><\/p>\n Last year, the African Union designated 2025 as the \u201cYear of Justice\nfor Africans through Reparations\u201d. According to the resolution,\nreparations should be understood as a future-oriented instrument linked\nto development.<\/p>\n However, Mahama stressed that this is not about monetary sums but\nrather recognition of historical truth. Financial questions will be\naddressed in due course.<\/p>\n Historical Reassessment Meets Western Resistance<\/strong><\/p>\n Asante also pointed to a growing counter-movement, particularly among\nultraconservatives in the United States. Within Donald Trump\u2019s national\nsecurity policy circles, arguments have emerged that the current\ngeneration should not be held accountable for the actions of their\nancestors.<\/p>\n The transatlantic slave trade therefore remains a politically\nsensitive and controversial issue, especially for nations that\neconomically benefited from slavery and colonialism.<\/p>\n What Does Civil Society Say?<\/strong><\/p>\n Young people in particular support the initiative, Asante said.\nAlthough the topic still feels abstract to many, historically minded\nyoung Ghanaians back it.<\/p>\n However, Asante cautioned against focusing too heavily on the past.\nYoung people strongly desire good governance today. Historical justice\nis important, but what matters is how political elites use their power\ntoday to create a better future. Many problems in African countries\noriginate domestically and are not solely attributable to colonial\npowers.<\/p>\n A Competition of Crimes?<\/strong><\/p>\n Mahama stated that in modern history, there is no greater injustice\nagainst humanity than the slave trade. Critics have questioned how this\nstatement compares with the crimes of the Holocaust.<\/p>\n Asante rejected such comparisons. This is not about ranking\nhistorical atrocities, but rather acknowledging the transatlantic slave\ntrade for what it was: a profoundly inhumane practice with global\nconsequences. Its lasting legacy is racism. This demonstrates that this\nchapter of history remains relevant today. What matters is recognition\nand learning lessons to ensure such crimes are never repeated.<\/p>\n Africa\u2019s Shared Responsibility<\/strong><\/p>\n Mahama also emphasised that the truth about the history of the\ntransatlantic slave trade must be \u201ctold in its entirety\u201d.<\/p>\n Critics note that this also encompasses the fact that African elites,\ntraders, and kingdoms were involved as intermediaries in the trade.\nHistorians argue that the majority of those captured in Africa were\nenslaved by fellow Africans before being sold to European traders.<\/p>\n Asante acknowledged that these aspects are also part of the\nhistorical truth. Forms of slavery existed within African societies\nbefore the transatlantic trade. This history must also be recognised\nbecause of its social and economic consequences.<\/p>\n Why Focus on the \u201cTransatlantic\u201d Slave Trade?<\/strong><\/p>\n The transatlantic slave trade was not the only form of slavery in\nAfrica. However, according to Asante, it was the one with the greatest\neconomic, political, and social impact. Its global consequences continue\nto shape the world order today.<\/p>\n At the same time, the Ghanaian human rights expert stressed that\nhowever important historical reassessment may be, African leaders face\nmajor challenges in the present and future.<\/p>\n The responsibility for development and good governance now lies in\ntheir hands.<\/p>\n This article was originally published in German and adapted by Sorta\nCaroline.<\/p>",
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