Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced that Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, has pledged full support for John Dramani Mahama‘s proposed United Nations resolution to declare the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity.
The endorsement was made following a high-level engagement between the Ghanaian Foreign Affairs Minister and President Lula on the sidelines of the CELAC-Africa Summit currently underway in Colombia.
Describing the development as “profoundly significant,” Ablakwa highlighted Brazil’s historical and cultural relevance to the issue, noting that the country is home to the largest population of people of African descent outside the African continent.
The growing international backing is seen as a major boost to Ghana’s diplomatic push for global recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity.
The resolution is scheduled to be tabled at the United Nations on March 25, 2026, a date that coincides with the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
According to Ablakwa, the expanding coalition of supporting nations strengthens confidence in the resolution’s chances of adoption, as Ghana continues to lead efforts on reparatory justice in collaboration with global partners.
The initiative forms part of a broader campaign to secure historical acknowledgment, accountability, and justice for the enduring impact of slavery on people of African descent worldwide.
