The United Nation's General Assembly has passed a resolution on reparatory justice declaring that the transatlantic slave trade was a grave crime against humanity.
This resolution was spearheaded by Ghana's president, John Dramani Mahama, who has been at the forefront of global calls for reparatory justice for African nations and descendants of enslaved Africans.
The landmark resolution was passed during a vote on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, which saw 123 member states voting in favour, while 3 voted against it, with 53 member states abstaining from voting.
The resolution describes transatlantic slave trade as a "horrific tragedy" that inflicted centuries of suffering, violence, and economic exploitation on millions of Africans and people of African descent.
President John Mahama and global reawakening of reparative justice
It urged former slave-trading nations to engage in meaningful dialogues with African States and the African Union (AU) to address historical injustices.
President Mahama has been at the forefront of the global movement for reparative justice, particularly in the context of the transatlantic slave trade.
His leadership at the United Nations has been instrumental in redefining the moral and legal discourse surrounding reparations.
See the voting results below:
UN passes resolution on reparatory justice.
— Shamima Muslim (@shamimamuslim) March 25, 2026
Thanks President @JDMahama for the bold leadership. #Ghanaleads pic.twitter.com/S2h01bEWhZ
JKB/AE
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