Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has raised a global alarm over what he describes as a systematic effort by the United States administration to normalize the erasure of Black history. Speaking in New York on Tuesday, Mahama warned that these policy shifts in Washington are not just a domestic issue but could serve as a dangerous template for other governments and private institutions worldwide.
Since returning to office, U.S. President Donald Trump has initiated a sweeping overhaul of cultural and historical institutions, including national parks, museums, and monuments. The administration’s goal is to remove what it labels as anti-American ideology. These executive orders have already resulted in the dismantling of slavery-related exhibits and the restoration of Confederate statues—moves that civil rights advocates argue could reverse decades of hard-won social progress.
Mahama, who was speaking at a United Nations event focused on slavery reparations, expressed deep concern over the removal of Black history from school curricula. He noted that institutions are increasingly being mandated to stop teaching the realities of slavery, segregation, and systemic racism, while books addressing these essential subjects are being banned at an alarming rate. He cautioned that these actions are slowly but surely making the erasure of history an accepted norm.
In response to these criticisms, a White House spokesperson defended the President’s record, claiming that Trump has done more for Black Americans than any of his predecessors. The spokesperson highlighted the historic support the President received from the Black community during the 2024 election and maintained that the administration is working around the clock to deliver results and strengthen the country.
The tension between the two leaders is not new. Mahama previously criticized Trump for making inflammatory and false claims regarding white genocide and land seizures in South Africa, which the Ghanaian leader described as an insult to all Africans. This history of friction adds weight to Mahama’s current visit to New York, where he intends to propose a formal resolution at the UN General Assembly.
The proposed resolution seeks to have transatlantic slavery officially recognized as the gravest crime in human history and includes a formal call for reparations. While the Ghanaian president pushes for this international acknowledgment, the U.S. and EU missions to the United Nations have yet to offer an official response to the latest developments.
