Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has openly criticized the United States under President Donald Trump for voting against a key United Nations resolution.In an interview with the BBC’s Focus on Africa, Ablakwa said the Trump administration “missed a golden opportunity” by opposing the resolution, which was spearheaded by Ghana.
The resolution officially recognizes the transatlantic slave trade as the “gravest crime against humanity.”Ablakwa expressed disappointment, noting that the US knows its historical role in the horrors of the slave trade. He described the “no” vote as a missed chance for the United States to show genuine remorse, offer an apology, and begin working with affected nations on reparatory justice.”This was an opportunity for reckoning — to show that they regret it, are contrite, willing to apologise, and ready to work with us on the journey towards reparatory justice,” he said.He added a direct message to the Trump administration:
“Ghana’s message to the Trump administration is that you missed a golden opportunity, but it is not too late.”The resolution ultimately passed at the UN General Assembly despite the US opposition.
This story comes amid broader discussions in Ghana about historical justice, reparations for the slave trade, and the country’s push for global acknowledgment of past atrocities.