By Demola Akinyemi Ilorin

A non governmental organisation, Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) has welcomed Ghana’s initiative to file a United Nations resolution on March 25, 2026, declaring the transatlantic slave trade as the greatest crimes against humanity, calling it a bold and historic step for Africa on the global stage.

At the same time, PeacePro urged that the initiative be expanded to include the Trans-Saharan slave trade, ensuring a complete and honest reckoning of Africa’s long history of enslavement.

In a statement on Wednesday, PeacePro Executive Director Abdulrazaq Hamzat said Ghana’s leadership demonstrates courage in confronting one of history’s gravest crimes.

“This initiative can become even stronger by acknowledging all major systems of African enslavement. A complete approach will enhance Africa’s moral authority and strengthen the case for reparations and restorative justice,” Hamzat said.

PeacePro also noted that Ghana’s move complements Algeria’s recent parliamentary action, which enacted a law declaring colonialism a crime against humanity, and stressed that all African nations should adopt similar resolutions as a precursor to the UN initiative.

The NGO emphasized that the Trans-Saharan slave trade, which lasted over a millennium and affected millions of Africans across North Africa, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean, must be recognized alongside the transatlantic system to reflect the full scale of Africa’s historical suffering.

“Africa cannot seek justice selectively. Honest historical accounting is the foundation for meaningful reparations, restitution, and reconciliation,” PeacePro said.

The NGO also called on the African Union, ECOWAS, and African governments to rally behind a unified continental position, ensuring that Africa presents a cohesive, comprehensive, and credible case at the United Nations.

“This is an opportunity for Africa to lead the world in historical justice. By including all systems of African enslavement, we send a clear message that Africa is ready to confront its history fully and demand accountability from all perpetrators,” the organization added.

PeacePro concluded by reaffirming its support for Ghana’s initiative, while urging African leaders to strengthen continental solidarity, elevate the global dialogue on reparations, and secure justice for all affected communities.

Earlier in another statement,the NGO warned that Nigeria risks missing a historic global energy opportunity due to policy failures, regulatory friction, and inconsistent crude supply, which have constrained the 650,000 barrel per day Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

Hamzat who made the comments in the press statement, citing energy intelligence firm Kpler, which reported that refinery shutdowns across Europe and North America have permanently removed between 800,000 and 900,000 barrels per day of refining capacity, structurally tightening global fuel markets, outlined seven urgent actions the Federal Government must take to unlock Dangote’s potential:

Consistent Crude Supply: NNPC must deliver uninterrupted volumes to meet full capacity, enforced under the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation.

Operational Coordination: Create a federal inter agency taskforce including NNPC, NUPRC, NMDPRA, and Dangote management to synchronise logistics and throughput.

Regulatory Clarity: NMDPRA must fast track export, pricing, and product evacuation approvals.

Technical Repairs: Prioritise mechanical fixes at the RFCC unit and other bottlenecks with international technical support if needed.

Transparent Monitoring: Publish weekly performance reports verified by independent auditors.

Market Leveraging Support: Facilitate exports to Atlantic Basin markets to convert refinery output into foreign exchange and influence.

Remove Policy Conflicts: Align directives across NNPC, NUPRC, NMDPRA, and Ministry of Petroleum for coherent, predictable governance.

“The world has shifted,” Hamzat said. “If Nigeria does not fix its internal bottlenecks, this refinery will exist without influence, and the country will remain a fuel importer in a seller’s market.”