International relations expert Nana Yaw Mireku has backed calls for the global community to formally recognise the transatlantic slave trade as a grave crime against humanity, emphasising the need for justice, accountability, and a formal apology for centuries of African suffering.

Speaking in an interview on JoyNews' The Pulse on Tuesday, he highlighted the immense human toll and generational impact.

"If you study history, and examine the impact, the scale of suffering endured by millions of Africans over centuries is unparalleled,” he said. “We must recognise the expulsion, deaths, and tribulations faced by Africans during this period. The looting, pillage, and inhumanity committed cannot be ignored.”

Mireku stressed that recognition is not about comparing atrocities but acknowledging the unique and systemic destruction caused by the transatlantic slave trade.

He cited examples of modern legal precedents, such as the Mau Mau case against the British government, where historical injustices were formally acknowledged, underscoring that accountability is possible even decades after the fact.

“This is not a question of compensation alone,” he explained. “The first step is for the perpetrators—or their descendants—to formally recognise that what happened was a crime against humanity. An apology is the foundation of justice and the starting point for any reparative measures.”

Mireku also noted the critical support of the Caribbean nations and the broader African diaspora, as Ghana seeks to lead a coordinated effort through the African Union and other South-South diplomatic platforms to secure recognition at the United Nations.

The expert argued that formal acknowledgment by the international community would be a crucial step in confronting historical injustices and reaffirming the dignity of Africans and their descendants worldwide.

“The legacy of slavery continues to affect millions of people today,” Mireku said. “We owe it to history and humanity to confront it openly and honestly.”

Ghana’s initiative reflects growing calls for the international community to confront the long-term consequences of slavery, emphasising moral accountability alongside legal and diplomatic recognition.