We cannot keep waiting for those who do not want to reckon! - Ghana's FM SLAMS United States for voting against as landmark resolution on transatlantic slave trade passes UNGA

"Ghana's Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa condemned the United States for voting against its landmark resolution on the transatlantic slave trade, as the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to adopt it on Wednesday. "One of those that voted against the resolution was the United States. Were you disappointed by that vote? And also, if you can comment on those that abstained, more than 50 nations. How do you feel about those?" on reporter asked. "They sought to create the impression that the time for negotiations has been short," Ablakwa replied. "The President of Ghana served notice last year, in September, when he delivered his address at the... session of the General Assembly." "[Today] we allocated three hours, twice the time, and had multiple rounds of negotiations. So there are some that to us, it is clear that even if we gave them 50 years, they would say that the time is not enough, but we can no longer wait," he went on. 123 countries backed the resolution - which described the slave trade as the 'gravest crime against humanity' - with three, the US, Israel and Argentina against, and 52 abstentions. "September, we will be commemorating 100 years since the last slavery was abolished. 100 years, and yet there has been no justice. A whole century. So we cannot keep waiting for those who do not want to reckon, who do not want to come to the table with urgency and with acknowledgement that this is a matter that can no longer be swept under the carpet," he added. Ghana tabled the resolution at the UN on March 25, the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, to formally recognise the slave trade as the 'gravest crime against humanity' and demand reparatory justice. "We don't want any payments made to us directly," Ablakwa explained. "We are talking about causes to deal with the structural inequalities. And we are also talking about the return of artefacts to the [African] continent." March 25 is the United Nations' International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. I remembers the millions of men, women and children who were trafficked over the 400-year history of the transatlantic slave trade. It coincides with the date in 1807 that Britain passed the 'Abolition of the Slave Trade Act'. "

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