Mahama Leads Wreath-Laying Ceremony to Honour Enslaved Africans in New York

President John Dramani Mahama has 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 ceremony, marked by reflection and reverence, formed part of a broader programme of engagements in New York City focused on remembrance, justice, and the global push for reparatory justice.

Speaking during the ceremony, President Mahama emphasized the significance of the site and the painful legacy it represents.

“We lay down this wreath to honour the memories of the nearly 20,000 Africans who are buried on these grounds, some of whom were free but most of whom were enslaved,” he stated.

The African Burial Ground National Monument is one of the most important historical sites in the United States, preserving the remains of Africans both enslaved and free who lived and died in colonial New York.

Reflecting on Ghana’s historical ties to the transatlantic slave trade, President Mahama noted that Ghana is home to more than thirty slave castles and forts more than any other African nation—highlighting the strong possibility that many of those buried at the site passed through, or originated from, present-day Ghana.

In a poignant tribute, the President called for continued remembrance of the victims of slavery and their enduring legacy.

“We lay down this wreath in remembrance of all the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade the men, women, and children who were taken from their lives and from those who loved them to be enslaved in a foreign land; and also, the people to whom they belonged… whose lives were forever altered,” he said.

The event underscores growing international efforts to confront the legacy of slavery and to advance conversations around justice, healing, and reparations for affected communities worldwide.