President John Dramani Mahama has pledged Ghana’s full support for Jamaica’s planned petition to King Charles III on slavery, urging the international community to sustain efforts towards reparatory justice for the transatlantic slave trade and the enslavement of Africans.
President Mahama gave the assurance when he addressed the Caribbean country’s legislature on August 4 as part of his state visit.
“I wish to also reiterate my message to the Right Honorable Prime Minister of Jamaica, Dr. Andrew Holness, yesterday, that Ghana fully supports the petition on slavery Jamaica proposes to soon submit to King Charles III,” President Mahama stated.
He added that, “Jamaica has provided principled leadership on this important issue for many years. Together, our two nations are ensuring that the descendants of those who suffered history’s greatest injustice are neither forgotten or denied a voice in shaping a fairer world.”
President Mahama noted that, “… while we must never forget the injustices of history, neither must we allow them to imprison us. The story of people of African descent is not simply one of suffering. It is equally a story of resilience, excellence, and enduring achievement.
It is a story of civilizations that advance human knowledge, of freedom fighters who challenged oppression, of innovators who expanded the frontiers of science and technology, of artists whose creativity enriched global culture, and of statesmen and women who inspired nations to believe in the possibilities of freedom and self-determination.
Few countries have contributed to this legacy I describe more profoundly than Jamaica.”
According to President Mahama, “Our advocacy is ultimately about hope. Hope that our future generations will inherit a world in which historical truth is acknowledged, human dignities upheld, and justice becomes the foundation for lasting reconciliation. And that is the vision that continues to unite Ghana and Jamaica. It is a vision worthy of our ancestors. It is a vision to which we remain unwaveringly committed.”
