President John Dramani Mahama is intensifying diplomatic efforts to rally international support for a United Nations resolution recognizing transatlantic slavery as a crime against humanity, securing key backing from Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell.
In a statement following a private discussion with Mitchell—described as a “garden conversation” on the sidelines of recent diplomatic engagements—Mahama confirmed that Ghana will formally submit the motion at the UN next year. The initiative, he said, is intended to seek justice and reparative measures for descendants of enslaved Africans.
“This cause is not a plea for charity, but a demand for justice and restoration,” Mahama said in a social media post Saturday.
The former Ghanaian president, recently appointed the African Union’s Champion for Reparations, has positioned the reparations agenda as a global justice issue. He first announced Ghana’s intention to bring the motion forward during the 2025 UN General Assembly.
Prime Minister Mitchell’s endorsement adds to growing support from Caribbean nations, many of which have long advocated for reparatory justice. Mahama expressed optimism that other leaders within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the African Union will co-sponsor or vote in favor of the resolution once it reaches the UN floor.
The reparations movement has gained renewed momentum in recent years, as governments and institutions in both the Global South and North reassess the legacies of colonialism and slavery. Mahama’s effort signals a strategic shift to formalize the debate within the world’s leading multilateral body.
