U.S. civil rights activist Al Sharpton has publicly endorsed President John Dramani Mahama’s campaign to have the transatlantic slave trade formally recognised as the gravest crime against humanity.

Sharpton’s backing coincides with support from BrazSammil, whose President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, reaffirmed the country’s commitment during talks with Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on the sidelines of the CELAC-Africa Summit in Colombia on Saturday, 21 March, 2026.

President Mahama is expected to present the resolution before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 25 March 2026.

The proposal seeks formal recognition of the transatlantic slave trade and the racialised chattel enslavement of Africans, a move seen as critical in advancing reparatory justice and addressing the enduring legacies of slavery.

As part of the programme, the Ghanaian President will deliver a keynote address at a high-level special event at the UN Headquarters in New York City, themed “Reparatory Justice for the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and the Racialised Chattel Enslavement of Africans.”

The event will convene world leaders, senior officials, and experts to deliberate on measures to address historical injustices.

In addition, Mahama is scheduled to address the General Assembly to present the African Union’s adopted position supporting the resolution.

He will also participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the African Burial Ground National Monument to honour the memory of enslaved Africans.

Beyond his UN engagements, President Mahama will visit Pennsylvania, delivering a keynote lecture at Lincoln University and meeting the Ghanaian diaspora at Temple University, reinforcing the country’s commitment to reparatory justice and global recognition of slavery’s impact.

Sharpton’s endorsement, along with Brazil’s support, has strengthened Ghana’s campaign for international acknowledgment of the transatlantic slave trade and the broader push for accountability and justice for its victims.