Accra has emerged as the central hub of international discourse on historical justice, as heads of state, senior government officials, and delegates from more than 80 countries convene in Ghana for the Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice, organized by President John Dramani Mahama.
The announcement was made by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, through a post on his Facebook page. He emphasized the high-profile attendance and the increasing global momentum supporting the reparatory justice movement.
According to Mr. Ablakwa, the conference has drawn participation from the Presidents of Senegal, Namibia, Liberia, and São Tomé and Príncipe, in addition to the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, the Speaker of the Algerian Parliament, and ministers and representatives from over 80 countries.
This gathering takes place just three months following the adoption of the landmark United Nations General Assembly Resolution A/RES/80/250, which formally recognized the transatlantic enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.
The resolution has been acclaimed by African governments, diaspora communities, and advocates of reparatory justice as a significant milestone in efforts to achieve acknowledgment, redress, and restorative measures for the enduring impacts of slavery and colonial exploitation.
The three-day conference in Accra is anticipated to provide a platform for leaders, scholars, civil society organizations, and descendants of enslaved Africans to deliberate on practical mechanisms for implementing the UN resolution and developing a coordinated global framework for advocacy.
Participants are also expected to discuss issues such as economic justice, cultural restitution, educational initiatives, and strategies for strengthening partnerships between African nations and people of African descent worldwide.
In recent years, Ghana has positioned itself at the forefront of global discussions on reparations, building on initiatives such as the Year of Return and the “Beyond the Return” campaign, both aimed at reconnecting Africa with its diaspora and promoting historical healing.
