President John Mahama has called for global unity in recognising the transatlantic slave trade as one of the gravest crimes against humanity, urging nations to act in the interest of justice and historical truth.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly to mark the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade on Wednesday, March 25, President Mahama said the moment demands moral clarity and collective responsibility.

“Let it be recorded that when history beckoned, we did what was right for the memory of the millions who suffered the indignity of slavery,” he said.

The President said that the day is set aside to honour the memory of an estimated 13 million Africans who were enslaved over several centuries, stressing the importance of remembrance through education, storytelling and global reflection.

“Through these activities, we do more than remember. We document and educate; we gain a greater perspective,” he said, adding that such efforts help the world learn from the past while working towards healing.

President Mahama recalled that the observance of the day was formally established by the global community in 2007, following a resolution adopted a year earlier to commemorate the victims of slavery annually on March 25.

Addressing the Assembly on behalf of the African Group, he highlighted a new push to deepen global recognition of the injustice of slavery through a draft resolution.

He explained that the proposal seeks to declare “the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.”

According to him, the resolution is the outcome of months of consultations involving African institutions, member states, scholars and legal experts, all working towards a shared position grounded in truth and moral conscience.

“This draft resolution is the result of months of consultation and consensus-building… with the sole aim of achieving a united front and grounding the final outcome in truth, compassion and moral conscience,” he said.

He said that adopting the resolution would help preserve historical memory and prevent future generations from forgetting the scale and impact of the transatlantic slave trade.

“The adoption of this resolution serves as a safeguard against forgetting,” he added.

President Mahama further urged the international community to pursue healing and reparative justice, describing the moment as a turning point in acknowledging past injustices.

“Today, we come together in solemn solidarity to affirm truth and pursue a route to healing and reparative justice,” he said.

Quoting former US President Theodore Roosevelt and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., he highlighted the need to stand firmly on the side of justice.

He called on nations to act with courage and conviction.

“On this beautiful day in March, we are called to stand on the right side of history,” he said.