The United States, Israel, and Argentina were the only three countries that voted against Ghana’s landmark United Nations resolution recognising the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity.
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The resolution was overwhelmingly adopted by the UN General Assembly, with 123 votes in favour and 52 abstentions.
Ghana led the push for the resolution, which formally declares the trafficking of enslaved Africans and their racialised chattel enslavement as history’s gravest crime against humanity, citing its immense scale, institutionalised brutality, and enduring socio-economic impact on Africa and the African diaspora.
President John Dramani Mahama and Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa rallied support from the African Union, CARICOM, and other international partners, framing the initiative as a critical step toward historical accountability and reparatory justice.
While the vast majority of UN member states either supported or abstained, the opposition votes from the United States, Israel, and Argentina stand out. The United States, along with several European countries, has historically resisted formal reparations discussions, arguing that present-day governments and institutions should not be held accountable for historical injustices.
Despite the three opposing votes, Ghanaian officials have described the resolution’s adoption as a resounding success and a moral victory that firmly places the issue of reparations on the global agenda.
The resolution also encourages countries historically involved in the slave trade to engage in processes of apology, recognition, and restorative justice.
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