By Hannah Dadzie
Accra is set to host a major international conference on reparatory justice from Wednesday June 17 to Friday June 19, 2026, as Ghana positions itself at the centre of renewed global efforts to address the historical injustices of transatlantic slavery and colonial exploitation.
Addressing a press briefing in Accra, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, described the upcoming gathering as “one of the most consequential international meetings on reparatory justice in recent history,” following the adoption of a landmark United Nations resolution earlier this year.
He referenced the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of Resolution A/RES/80/250 on 25 March 2026, which declared the trafficking and enslavement of Africans as “the gravest crime against humanity.”
The resolution, supported by 123 member states, was championed through the advocacy of African states and the African Union, with strong backing from the Caribbean and diaspora communities.
According to the Minister, the resolution, championed by President John Dramani Mahama in his role as African Union Champion on Reparations, marks not an endpoint, but the beginning of a new global phase focused on implementation and accountability.
The upcoming Accra conference, themed “Next Steps on Reparatory Justice,” will bring together heads of state, foreign ministers, international organisations, scholars, civil society actors, and diaspora representatives to develop a coordinated global framework for action.
Organised under the auspices of the Government, the three-day event is expected to feature high-level participation from global and regional bodies, including the African Union and the CARICOM Reparations Commission, alongside experts and policymakers from more than 80 countries.
Key outcomes expected
The conference is expected to deliver several major outcomes, including a post-adoption global framework to guide implementation of the UN resolution, a comprehensive report to feed into the UN Secretary-General’s report ahead of the 82nd UN General Assembly, and the establishment of three global mechanisms: a reparatory justice advisory panel, a cultural restitution expert panel, and a legal panel on reparations.
It will also seek to institutionalise a permanent transcontinental consultative forum to sustain dialogue across Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, and North America.
High-level participation and thematic discussions
The conference will open on June 17 with technical consultations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, followed by a high-level summit on June 18 at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra. The final day will focus on the adoption of an outcome document and a commemorative programme at the historic Christiansborg Castle in Osu.
Participants will also engage in six thematic panels covering issues such as legal frameworks for reparations, economic dimensions of restitution, cultural heritage recovery, and strategies for transcontinental cooperation.
Among confirmed participants are several heads of state and government, including leaders from Senegal, Liberia, Namibia, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Barbados, alongside senior representatives from international organisations and academia.
Juneteenth commemoration in Ghana
A notable highlight of the programme will be a joint commemorative event marking Juneteenth on June 19, which Ghana will observe alongside the United States for the first time outside America. The event at Christiansborg Castle is expected to feature diaspora leaders, civil rights advocates, and descendants of prominent Pan-African figures.
Mr Ablakwa also confirmed that French President Emmanuel Macron will deliver a virtual address to the conference, amid broader international engagement on reparatory justice, including commitments from several European countries on cultural restitution and historical acknowledgment.
Global engagement expands
The Foreign Affairs Minister, says Ghana has received confirmation of participation from more than 80 countries, along with delegations from international institutions, former world leaders, and leading scholars. Mr Ablakwa noted that dozens of ministers responsible for foreign affairs, justice, culture, and reparations are expected in Accra.
He emphasised that Ghana’s approach is anchored on inclusivity and dialogue, stressing that countries with historical ties to slavery and colonialism are being engaged constructively in the process.
A turning point in global reparations debate
With the Accra conference approaching, Ghana says it is seeking to transform global consensus into concrete action.
“This is not merely about revisiting history. It is about shaping a future rooted in justice, healing, and shared responsibility.” Mr Ablakwa said.
As preparations intensify, Ghana is positioning the conference as a defining moment in the global reparatory justice movement, with expectations that Accra will help shape the next phase of international policy and cooperation on historical redress.
