President John Dramani Mahama has called for a fundamental shift in how the transatlantic slave trade is understood and discussed globally, arguing that the system was deliberately designed to dehumanise Africans and was sustained by false ideas of racial superiority.
Speaking at a United Nations event on slavery at the United Nations Headquarters on Tuesday, March 24, Mahama emphasised that the historical narrative surrounding slavery must be revisited, beginning with the language used to describe it. According to him, the transatlantic slave trade was not merely an economic system but a calculated structure aimed at stripping African people of their identity, dignity, and humanity.
He explained that the system was built on a fabricated racial hierarchy that elevated whiteness above blackness without any scientific or factual basis. This, he noted, enabled the widespread abuse and exploitation of millions of Africans, who were forcibly taken from their homes and subjected to inhumane conditions across continents.
Mahama also took issue with the continued use of the term “slave,” arguing that it risks normalising and perpetuating the dehumanisation of those who suffered under the system. He stressed that those affected were human beings who were trafficked and later enslaved, not inherently “slaves,” and that language plays a crucial role in shaping perception and historical understanding.
He further pointed out that the atrocities committed during the period, as well as the systemic inequalities that followed, were made possible because enslaved Africans were viewed as property rather than as people with rights and dignity. This perception, he said, laid the foundation for enduring injustices that have persisted through successive social and economic systems.
Calling for action, Mahama urged the international community to reframe discussions on slavery by prioritising the restoration of African dignity and recognising the humanity of those who endured the brutal system. He maintained that any meaningful conversation about slavery and its lasting impact must begin with acknowledging the humanity of the victims and reaffirming the inherent dignity of African people.
