Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has expressed deep concern over the persistent wave of extreme intolerance, violence, and discrimination across the globe, twenty-five years after the adoption of the Durban Declaration.
Addressing a special UN high-level commemorative session on Monday to mark the silver jubilee of the historic declaration, Mr Ablakwa described his participation as an honour, whilst highlighting the urgent need for world leaders to confront modern manifestations of racial injustice and global hatred.
The Durban Declaration was adopted twenty-five years ago as a landmark framework aimed at eradicating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance. However, the Foreign Minister noted with great consternation that the global community continues to witness horrific acts of injustice, pointing to the ongoing genocide in Palestine, instances of xenophobia in South Africa, and targeted attacks on minorities, including Rohingya Muslims and African Americans.
He stressed that humanity has urgent work ahead in building a new world where every life truly matters, framing Ghana’s recent diplomatic strides at the United Nations as a pivotal step towards that vision.
Mr Ablakwa underscored the significance of the Ghana-led UN Resolution A/RES/80/250, which declared the transatlantic slave trade and racialised chattel enslavement as the gravest crimes against humanity. According to him, the resolution represents a historic milestone in addressing the historical root causes of systemic discrimination, inequality, and injustice.
He added that the tangible progress achieved following the passage of the resolution—including securing formal apologies, engaging in honest historical reckoning, obtaining pledges for the restitution of looted African artefacts and cultural heritage, as well as advancing discussions on reparations and compensation—serves as the foundational bedrock for a more equitable global order.
Aligning his position with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who addressed the UN General Assembly last week, Mr Ablakwa concurred that the vote on the Ghana-sponsored resolution remains one of the most critical decisions taken by the United Nations in its 81-year history.
Concluding his address, the Minister reaffirmed Ghana’s firm, unwavering support for the International Criminal Court (ICC). He forcefully rejected attempts in certain quarters to weaken or abolish the tribunal, maintaining that international mechanisms established to punish crimes against humanity must be fiercely protected and strengthened to ensure global accountability and justice.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana