President John Dramani Mahama has called for a global commitment to truth, dignity, and reparatory justice, as he addressed a high-level special event on reparations in New York.

Opening with a powerful reflection on language, he stressed that “there is no such thing as a slave,” but rather human beings who were trafficked and enslaved, underscoring the need to restore the humanity of millions affected by the transatlantic slave trade.

He described the system as one built on false racial hierarchies that dehumanised Africans and justified centuries of exploitation, violence, and economic gain.

The president highlighted the scale of the atrocity, noting that over 12 million Africans were forcibly taken from their homes, with many dying during the Middle Passage.

President Mahama said recognising the trafficking and enslavement of Africans as a crime against humanity is essential for global healing, justice, and preventing historical erasure. He warned that attempts to sanitise or distort the history of slavery—through language, education, or policy—risk perpetuating injustice.

Speaking in solidarity with Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the diaspora, he emphasised that the resolution on reparatory justice offers a pathway to acknowledgment, accountability, and healing.

He concluded by urging the international community to support the resolution, describing it as a crucial step toward restoring dignity and affirming the humanity of millions of victims of slavery.