President John Dramani Mahama has led a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the African Burial Ground National Monument in New York in honour of Africans who lost their lives during the transatlantic slave trade.
The ceremony was held on the eve of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, as part of activities commemorating victims of slavery and advancing discussions on reparatory justice.
Ceremony Honours Victims of Slave Trade
President Mahama, who also serves as the African Union Leader on Advancing the Cause of Justice and Payment of Reparations, described the ceremony as a moment of reflection, remembrance, and renewed commitment to justice for Africans and people of African descent.
The African Burial Ground National Monument is one of the most important historical sites in the United States, believed to be the resting place of thousands of Africans, both free and enslaved, who lived in New York during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Ghana Delegation and International Dignitaries Attend
The ceremony was attended by senior government officials from Ghana, including the Executive Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and Ghana’s Special Envoy for Reparations, Ekwow Spio-Garbrah.
Other dignitaries present included the Mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, representatives of the African Union, Permanent Representatives of the United Nations, Members of Parliament from coastal constituencies in Ghana, as well as civil rights leaders including Benjamin Crump and Al Sharpton.
Focus on Reparations and Historical Justice
The wreath-laying ceremony formed part of broader international engagements focused on reparatory justice, historical recognition, and global awareness of the impact of the transatlantic slave trade on Africa and the African diaspora.
The event also highlighted Ghana’s continued role in global conversations on reparations, remembrance, and historical justice for victims of slavery and colonial exploitation.
The ceremony ended with a moment of silence in memory of the millions of Africans who lost their lives during the transatlantic slave trade.
