President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned against what he describes as a growing global trend to distort or erase the true history of slavery, warning that such actions threaten justice and collective memory.
Speaking at the United Nations High-Level Special Event on Reparatory Justice in New York at the United Nations Headquarters, themed “Reparatory Justice for the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans and the Racialised Chattel Enslavement of Africans,” on March 24, 2026, Mahama stressed that the way history is told and the language used plays a critical role in shaping understanding and accountability.
“Erasure begins with language, when words are used as a sleight of hand to gaslight, to trick you into doubting what you know to be true, and to create mythology that distorts reality,” he told delegates.
Mahama expressed concern over examples of historical revisionism, particularly in parts of the United States, where educational materials and public discourse have, at times, softened or misrepresented the realities of slavery.
He cited instances where enslaved Africans were described merely as “workers” in textbooks, as well as the removal of Black history content from school curricula and restrictions on discussions around racism and slavery in public institutions.
According to him, such portrayals risk creating a false narrative that undermines the gravity of the atrocities committed and the long-term impact on African people and their descendants.
The President emphasized that the transatlantic slave trade was built on the systematic denial of African humanity, driven by a false racial hierarchy that justified exploitation and violence.
“Violence begins with language, when words are weaponised to codify abuse and strip people of their identity, reducing human beings to objects and justifying their exploitation,” he said.
Mahama further argued that failing to fully acknowledge the truth about slavery would hinder efforts toward reparatory justice and healing for affected communities across Africa and the diaspora.
He called on the international community to support a proposed United Nations resolution that seeks to formally recognise the trafficking and enslavement of Africans as a grave crime against humanity.
“This resolution allows us as a global community to bear witness to the plight of millions whose homes, names, families, hopes and futures were stolen, and it serves as both a pathway to healing and a safeguard against forgetting,” he stated.
Mahama urged member states to confront history honestly and preserve the dignity of the millions who suffered under slavery, stressing that truth must remain central to global efforts toward justice.
