President John Dramani Mahama has described the transatlantic slave trade as a deliberate and systematic attempt to strip Africans of their humanity, urging the global community to confront its legacy and pursue reparatory justice.
Speaking at a high-level event on reparations at the United Nations, Mahama said the centuries-long system of enslavement was rooted in a false racial hierarchy that sought to justify the subjugation of African people.
“The entire transatlantic slave trade was designed to deny African people their humanity. That denial was premised on a racial hierarchy with no basis in fact or science,” he stated.
According to him, the injustices of slavery extended far beyond physical bondage, shaping social, economic, and institutional systems that persisted long after abolition.
He stressed that enslaved Africans were treated as property rather than human beings, enabling widespread exploitation and abuse across generations.
Mahama also recounted the brutal realities of the slave trade, from the harsh conditions endured during the Middle Passage to the degrading auctions in the Americas and the Caribbean, where Africans were bought and sold like commodities.
“They were inspected and appraised like livestock… placed on auction blocks and sold to the highest bidder,” he noted.
The former president emphasized that acknowledging the intentional and systemic nature of these atrocities is essential to achieving meaningful reparatory justice.
He urged the international community to reclaim the narrative around slavery by centering truth, dignity, and the humanity of those affected.
Mahama further called on global leaders to support efforts that recognize the full scale of the injustice, including the millions of Africans whose lives were disrupted or destroyed over four centuries of enslavement.
“Truth begins with language… we must reclaim racial equality, the dignity of Africans, and the humanity of our ancestors,” he added.
