President Mahama also announced that Ghana will soon take a major step in the international campaign for historical justice by submitting a motion to the United Nations to declare slavery and the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity.
The President said the initiative forms part of broader efforts by Ghana and its partners across Africa and the diaspora to seek justice and recognition for the atrocities of the past.
The announcement was made during the Independence Day ceremony attended by the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Terrance Michael Drew, who served as the special guest of honour alongside his wife, Diani Jinesha Prince-Drew.
President Mahama said Dr Drew’s presence symbolized the deep historical ties between Ghana and the Caribbean, noting that both regions share ancestral connections forged during the era of the transatlantic slave trade.
He referenced the historic slave dungeons at Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle, which served as major departure points for enslaved Africans transported across the Middle Passage.
“The dungeons of Cape Coast and Elmina castles remind us of the dark chapters of our history when millions of Africans were forcibly transported across the Middle Passage to the New World,” President Mahama said.
Despite the tragedy, he noted that the African diaspora has shown remarkable resilience and creativity, influencing global culture and society.
“Later this month, Ghana will submit a motion to the United Nations declaring slavery and the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity,” he said.
Mahama added that the move represents a long-overdue call for justice and restitution, stressing that Ghana—recognized as the first sub-Saharan African nation to gain independence—will once again lead the global campaign for dignity and restoration.
