By Boakye Stephen, Kumasi, Ghana | Reporting for Ghanaian News, Canada
Professor Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua, an expert in International Law and Human Rights at the University of Ghana, has cautioned that implementing the recently adopted United Nations resolution declaring slavery a crime against humanity will face substantial challenges.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Prof Appiagyei-Atua highlighted that while the resolution, spearheaded by Ghana, is historic, its passage through the UN General Assembly presents limitations, as such resolutions are recommendatory, not legally binding.
“When votes are cast on issues such as this, they are not binding… abstentions are more or less a diplomatic way of saying no to the resolution,” he said. He noted that major global powers either abstained or voted against, which could hinder meaningful enforcement.
He further drew parallels with similar initiatives in the 1970s for a new international economic order, which failed due to opposition from powerful states, cautioning that history might repeat itself.
Commentary: The resolution is a moral victory, but real justice requires pressure, diplomacy, and enforceable mechanisms. As history shows, declarations without enforcement risk remaining symbolic. Ghana’s leadership, therefore, must mobilize African unity and global advocacy to ensure the voices of enslaved descendants are not silenced.
