After UN resolution vote: Pres Mahama returns to hero’s welcome
RESIDENT John Dramani Mahama returned to a hero’s welcome in Ghana on Sunday after leading a successful reparatory advocacy at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week.
The reception was led by the Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, ministers of state, senior government officials, traditional leaders, and a cross-section of Ghanaians.
Clad in national colours and showcasing Ghanaian culture through music and dance, hundreds of well-wishers gathered at the Jubilee Lounge and the Accra International Airport. They carried placards, the most striking of which read: “Thank you for making Africa proud.”
In her welcome address, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said President Mahama had helped secure a clearer global position on a difficult history.
She noted that while the resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity does not resolve the significant inequalities rooted in history, it establishes a shared language, reduces ambiguity, and makes certain issues harder to ignore.
“For Ghana, the implications are both external and internal. Externally, it strengthens the basis for continued engagement on heritage and development. Internally, it challenges us to preserve and present this history with accuracy, discipline and full awareness of its relevance,” the Vice President indicated.
President Mahama expressed appreciation to Ghanaians, Africans, and the coalition of nations that supported the resolution, describing its adoption as a collective victory.
He explained that the resolution confirms Africa’s long-held position that the enslavement of Africans between the 15th and 16th centuries must be addressed.
Acknowledging the contributions of the African Union (AU), CARICOM, and other coalition countries that backed the resolution, President Mahama mentioned that Ghana had once again demonstrated moral leadership on the global stage.
“This resolution is just the beginning. It is not the end. We will work with our partners to translate this moral victory into concrete outcomes. CARICOM already has a 10-point plan for reparative justice.
“We will build a coalition around their plan. Ghana will continue to work with our allies towards dialogue, education, remembrance, and reparative action. Let this moment remind us of what we can achieve when we act with purpose and unity,” he urged.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
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