New York, United States — Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has criticized the United States administration for what he termed as normalizing the erasure of Black history. Speaking in New York on Tuesday, Mahama warned that such policies could have far-reaching effects internationally. Since his return to power, US President Donald Trump has targeted various US cultural and historical institutions, including museums, monuments, and national parks, to remove what he calls “anti-American “ideology.
This has included the dismantling of slavery exhibits, the restoration of Confederate statues, and other moves that civil rights advocates argue could reverse decades of social progress. These policies are becoming a template for other governments as well as some private institutions, “Mahama said at an event on slavery reparations at the United Nations. “At the very least, they are slowly normalizing the erasure.
Officials commented on the matter. When asked about Mahama’s remarks, a White House spokesperson defended President Trump, claiming he had done more for Black Americans than any other president and that he was proud to have received “historic support “from the Black community in the 2024 election. Mahama, who last year announced a deal to accept West Africans deported by the US, is in New York to propose a resolution at the UN General Assembly to recognize transatlantic slavery as the “gravest crime in the history of humankind “and to call for reparations.
Ghana has been a leading advocate for reparations, a cause that has gained significant momentum in recent years, despite a growing backlash.
The draft resolution, seen by Reuters, urges member states to engage in dialogue on reparations, including issuing formal apologies, returning stolen artifacts, providing financial compensation, and ensuring guarantees of non — repetition.
The resolution has been backed by the nations of the African Union and the Caribbean Community, as well as countries like Brazil.
The European Union and the US have indicated they will not back the resolution. Further details are expected as the resolution proceeds through the UN General Assembly.
