Ghana is set to host a major international conference on reparatory justice from June 17 to 19, 2026, following the recent adoption of a landmark United Nations resolution declaring the trans-Atlantic enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the High-Level Next Steps Conference will be held under the auspices of President John Dramani Mahama, who also serves as the African Union Champion for Reparations. The event is intended as a strategic follow-up to the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the historic resolution.
The resolution, which garnered the support of 123 UN Member States, recognizes the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement as crimes of the highest order. It is widely seen as a significant step toward global acknowledgment of historical injustices and the need for structured reparatory measures.
The upcoming conference will bring together heads of state and government, foreign ministers, academics, researchers, and members of civil society, as well as representatives from regional and international organizations. Participants are expected to deliberate on practical steps to advance the reparations agenda globally.
Discussions will focus on translating the UN resolution into a coordinated and actionable global framework. Organizers say the conference aims to sustain momentum at the multilateral level by providing a dedicated platform for dialogue among policymakers, historians, legal experts, and activists.
An outcome document from the conference is expected to outline collective strategies for developing policy approaches, institutional frameworks, and mechanisms to support sustained international engagement on reparatory justice.
The Government of Ghana has positioned the conference as a key moment in advancing international discourse on reparations and strengthening collaboration among stakeholders committed to addressing the enduring legacy of slavery.
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