Renowned United States civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton has thrown his full support behind President John Dramani Mahama’s initiative to have the United Nations formally recognise the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity.
Sharpton’s endorsement bolsters growing international momentum for the resolution, which Ghana plans to table at the UN General Assembly on March 25, 2026, coinciding with the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
The proposal seeks global acknowledgment of the transatlantic slave trade and the racialised chattel enslavement of Africans as an unparalleled historical injustice, emphasising its massive scale, centuries-long duration, systemic brutality, and persistent legacies. Proponents argue that such recognition is essential for advancing reparatory justice and addressing ongoing inequalities rooted in slavery.
Sharpton, a prominent advocate for social justice and racial equality, declared his “full and absolute support” for the campaign, highlighting its significance in confronting historical wrongs and pursuing collective repair.
The initiative has also received backing from Brazil, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announcing his country’s full endorsement during a meeting with Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on the sidelines of the CELAC-Africa Summit in Colombia on Saturday, March 21, 2026. Brazil’s support carries particular weight, given its status as home to the largest population of people of African descent outside the continent.
As the African Union’s Champion for Reparations, President Mahama is leading the charge on behalf of the continent. The resolution aligns with broader efforts, including the African Union’s declaration of 2026–2035 as the Decade of Action on Reparations and African Heritage.
During his upcoming visit to New York, President Mahama will deliver a keynote address at a high-level special event at UN Headquarters themed “Reparatory Justice for the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and the Racialised Chattel Enslavement of Africans.” The event will convene world leaders and senior officials to deliberate on pathways to justice and remembrance.
Mahama is also scheduled to address the UN General Assembly, where he will present the African Union’s adopted position in support of the resolution. Additionally, he will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the African Burial Ground National Monument to honour the memory of enslaved Africans buried there.
Beyond UN engagements, the Ghanaian leader will travel to Pennsylvania to deliver a keynote address at Lincoln University and engage with the Ghanaian community at Temple University.