Ghana to host 3-day reparations conference June 17 to 19 after UN resolution
Ghana will host a high-level conference on reparatory justice from June 17 to 19, 2026, following the adoption of a landmark United Nations resolution on the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
The resolution, adopted on March 25, secured the support of 123 UN member states, while Israel, the United States and Argentina voted against it.
Fifty-two countries, including the United Kingdom, abstained.
Ghana’s resolution seeks to formally recognise the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.
In a statement issued on May 4, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the conference will serve as a strategic follow-up to the global decision.
“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,” the statement read in part.
The Ministry noted that discussions at the conference will focus on translating the UN resolution into a concrete global framework for action.
“The Outcome Document is also expected to highlight a collective effort aimed at developing coordinated policy approaches, institutional frameworks and mechanisms for sustained international engagement,” it further noted.
The conference, to be held under the auspices of President John Dramani Mahama, who is also the African Union Champion for Reparations, will bring together heads of state, ministers, academics, and representatives of international organisations.
As part of the programme, a Juneteenth commemoration will be held at the Christiansborg Castle in Osu, a historic site linked to the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
The Ministry said the gathering is expected to deepen collaboration among states, strengthen Africa’s voice on reparatory justice, and shape a unified global position on the issue.