Slavery was the “most horrendous crime that took place in the history of mankind”, Ghana’s foreign minister said ahead of a landmark vote at the UN General Assembly.

Member states are set to vote on a resolution led by Ghana to recognise the transatlantic slave trade as “the gravest crime against humanity”.

The proposal urges UN member states to consider apologising for the slave trade and contributing to a reparations fund.

The resolution is likely to face resistance, as states like the UK have long rejected paying reparations, saying today’s institutions cannot be held responsible for past wrongs.

But the proposal’s advocates, which include the African Union, said it is a step towards healing and justice.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana’s foreign minister, said: “We are demanding compensation and let us be clear, African leaders are not asking for money for themselves.

“We want justice for the victims and causes to be supported, educational and endowment funds, skills training funds.”

Ablakwa also said that, with the resolution, Ghana was not ranking its pain above anyone else’s, but simply documenting a historical fact.

Between 1500 and 1800, around 12-15 million people were captured in Africa and taken to the Americas where they were forced to work as slaves. It is estimated that over two million people died on the journey.

Ablakwa said that the “structures” and “inequalities” created by slavery still persist.

“Many generations continue to suffer the exclusion, the racism because of the transatlantic slave trade which has left millions separated from the continent and impoverished,” he said.

Ghana, one of the main gateways for the trade, has long been a leading advocate for reparations.

Forts, where tens of thousands of enslaved Africans were once held under inhuman conditions, remain standing along the West African country’s coast.

The resolution also calls for cultural artefacts stolen during the colonial era to be returned to their countries of origin.

“We want a return of all those looted artefacts, which represent our heritage, our culture and our spiritual significance. All those artefacts looted for many centuries into the colonial era ought to be returned,” Ablakwa said.

Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has called the resolution “historic” and S“safeguard against forgetting”.

Tragedy struck in Ridawa village in Ghari Local Government Area of Kano State when an unspecified number of brick workers were reportedly buried after a pit collapsed in the village.

The incident was said to have occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, while the victims were engaged in digging earth for brick-making.

It was gathered that the victims were inside the pit when it suddenly caved in, trapping many of them underground.

There are growing fears that several of the trapped workers may have died, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the collapsed pit.

According to reports from the area, rescue efforts have since commenced, as locals and emergency responders struggled to reach those still buried beneath the rubble.

As of the time of filing this report, some of the victims had yet to be rescued, raising concerns over their chances of survival.

The member representing Ghari/ Tsanyawa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Sani Bala, confirmed the incident, saying about 10 persons were believed to be trapped underground.

He called for the government’s urgent intervention in rescuing the victims and preventing further loss of lives.

However, when contacted, the Public Relations Officer of Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, said the service has yet to receive a report on the incident.

“We have not received any report on the incident. The Ghari office has not received a report on the incident, adding that as soon as we get details on the incident, we shall let you know,” Abdullahi said.

CBN Strengthens Diaspora Remittances, Unveils New Framework

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced a new regulatory framework to strengthen oversight of diaspora remittances and enhance transparency in Nigeria’s foreign exchange market.

Under the new directive, all International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) are required to open and maintain naira settlement accounts with authorised dealer banks, through which all remittance-related transactions must be processed.

The policy, contained in a circular dated March 24, 2026, was signed by the Director of the Trade and Exchange Department, Dr.

According to the CBN, the move is designed to “enhance diaspora remittances, strengthen transparency, traceability, and effective monitoring of all transactions.”

With the new arrangement, all inflows, beneficiary payments, and settlement activities linked to international transfers will now pass strictly through designated accounts held with authorised dealer banks in Nigeria.

The framework also limits how such accounts can be funded, stating that they “shall only be credited with remittance flows and proceeds of foreign exchange conversions by licensed IMTOs (or their agents)” within the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market.

As part of the changes, IMTOs must formally designate their settlement accounts and submit details to the apex bank, while providing updates when necessary.

The CBN said the policy will also improve efficiency in the FX market, allowing authorised dealer banks to transfer foreign currency from IMTO accounts to other banks and approved participants, including Bureau De Change operators.

In addition, IMTOs are now required to align their pricing with real-time market rates from the Bloomberg BMatch system. The circular stated that operators “shall observe real-time market prices from the Bloomberg BMATCH and utilise this as guidance for pricing transactions with their customers and Authorised Dealers.”

The apex bank noted that the pricing guideline would “improve price discovery, reduce information asymmetry between IMTOs and banks, and encourage increased participation in the official FX market.”

It also stressed that all operators must maintain accurate transaction records and comply fully with anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and counter-proliferation financing regulations.

“This directive takes effect from May 1, 2026. Please note and ensure compliance,” the circular stated.

Analysts say the move signals a broader push by the CBN to channel remittance inflows through formal banking systems, deepen liquidity in the official FX market, and enhance regulatory oversight of cross-border financial flows into Nigeria.