By Makiza Micheline Latifa | May 4, 2026
Ghana will host a High-Level Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice from June 17 to 19, 2026, as a strategic follow-up to the landmark United Nations General Assembly Resolution that declared the trafficking of enslaved Africans and the racialised chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.
The conference, held under the auspices of President John Dramani Mahama, who also serves as the African Union Champion for Reparations, is designed to sustain the momentum generated by the historic resolution, which received overwhelming endorsement from 123 UN Member States.
“The High-Level Next Steps Conference is intended to sustain the momentum generated at the multilateral level by providing a dedicated platform for participating States, world leaders, experts, historians, jurists and activists to deliberate on the next phase of the reparations agenda,” a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs read.
Deliberations at the conference will focus on translating Resolution A/RES/80/250 into a common, actionable global framework, with the expected outcome document outlining coordinated policy approaches, institutional frameworks and mechanisms for sustained international engagement.
The gathering will bring together Heads of State and Government, Foreign Affairs Ministers, academics, researchers and representatives of regional and international organisations, alongside members of the global coalition on reparatory justice.
A highlight of the three-day conference will be a first-ever Juneteenth commemoration held at Christiansborg Castle in Osu, a site of profound historical significance to the transatlantic slave trade. The inaugural joint commemoration, shared with Africans in the United States, is intended to be a defining moment for reflection, remembrance, recognition, healing and the broader pursuit of justice.
The conference is also expected to deepen collaboration among participating states, strengthen Africa’s collective voice on reparatory justice, and provide a platform for meaningful engagement with the African diaspora and international partners.
Outcomes are expected to include forward-looking recommendations to guide subsequent engagements at the continental and international levels, building on the unprecedented momentum of the UN resolution.
Further details on registration, participation, accreditation and the programme of activities are available at reparations.mfa.gov.gh.
Editor’s Note: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release is attached in full for further reference.