Ghana is pushing for global support at the United Nations for a draft resolution to recognise the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity.

The proposal, aimed at deepening conversations on reparations and historical accountability, was outlined by Ghana’s Permanent Representative, Samuel Yao Kumah.

Kumah said the resolution seeks to acknowledge the scale and lasting impact of the transatlantic slave trade, stressing that it is not intended to rank atrocities or diminish others such as genocide, apartheid, or colonial violence.

Instead, he noted, the initiative focuses on recognising a historical system that reshaped the modern world and continues to influence global inequalities.

Ghana says the move is part of efforts to confront history honestly while laying the groundwork for broader discussions on justice and reparative measures.

Kumah added that supporting the resolution should be seen as a shared responsibility, reflecting a global commitment to truth, dignity, and equality.

Historians estimate that between the 16th and 19th centuries, more than 13 million Africans were forcibly taken across the Atlantic, with long-lasting consequences still evident today.