President John Dramani Mahama led a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the African Burial Ground National Monument in Lower Manhattan, paying tribute to nearly 20,000 Africans buried at the historic site. The burial ground, rediscovered in the 1990s, is one of the most significant colonial-era cemeteries for people of African descent in the United States, many of whom were enslaved. During the ceremony, Mahama honored their memory, noting that while some were free, the majority lived and died in bondage.
Reflecting on Ghana’s deep historical ties to the transatlantic slave trade, he highlighted that the country is home to more than 30 slave castles and forts more than any other African nation, making it likely that many of those buried passed through or originated from present-day Ghana. Mahama also paid tribute to all victims of slavery, describing how millions of men, women, and children were forcibly taken from their homes, families, and communities, with lasting consequences that continue to shape societies today.
The ceremony formed part of a broader set of engagements in New York focused on remembrance, historical accountability, and advancing global discussions on reparatory justice for descendants of enslaved Africans.
