Ghana Reaffirms Diplomatic Ties After UN Slavery Reparations Vote
Foreign Affairs Minister assures nations of continued cooperation while rallying global support for reparatory justice
- Ghana reassures countries that opposed or abstained from the UN vote that relations remain unaffected.
- Government expresses gratitude to over 120 nations that supported the slavery reparations resolution.
- Ghana leads efforts to expand a global coalition pushing for reparatory justice and return of artefacts.
Ghana has moved to reassure members of the diplomatic community that its international relationships remain strong following the recent United Nations resolution on slavery reparations.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, reiterated the country’s commitment to maintaining friendly ties with all nations, including those that opposed or abstained from the vote.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, May 3, he revealed that he had met with diplomats based in Ghana to express gratitude on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama and the Ghanaian people for the widespread support that secured the resolution’s adoption at the UN.
According to him, the meeting was intended to thank countries that backed what he described as a historic decision recognising transatlantic enslavement as one of the gravest crimes against humanity.
He also made it clear that Ghana holds no ill will toward countries that did not support the resolution, stressing that their positions would not affect existing diplomatic relations.
Ablakwa further noted that Ghana is leading efforts to build a broad global coalition to advance reparatory justice. On behalf of President Mahama, he invited all nations to join the growing alliance, which already includes more than 120 countries, as discussions move toward concrete next steps.
Additionally, he praised the Netherlands and Germany for indicating their willingness to return cultural artefacts in their possession, describing the move as an important step toward addressing historical injustices.
The UN resolution, supported by over 120 countries, formally acknowledges the transatlantic slave trade as a grave crime against humanity and signals renewed international momentum toward reparations.
