Mahama announces establishment of three expert panels to advance reparatory justice globally

President John Dramani Mahama has announced the establishment of three expert panels aimed at advancing the global campaign for reparatory justice.

The panels will focus on strengthening international cooperation, facilitating the return of cultural artefacts and exploring legal pathways for reparations.

The announcement was made at the opening of the Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice in Accra on Thursday, June 18, where world leaders, policymakers and experts gathered to discuss the future of the reparations movement.

“A global advisory panel on reparatory justice, comprising heads of state and government, eminent leaders, and public figures who will provide strategic guidance to advance international dialogue and cooperation on reparatory justice,” President Mahama said while outlining the first initiative.

According to him, the second panel will concentrate on the restitution of cultural artefacts and historical treasures taken from African communities during periods of enslavement and colonial rule.

He explained that the body would support efforts to facilitate the return of cultural properties, archives, sacred objects and other heritage items to their countries and communities of origin.

The third panel, he noted, will be made up of distinguished jurists and legal scholars tasked with examining legal frameworks and options for advancing reparatory justice.

President Mahama stressed that the panels are intended to complement ongoing efforts by governments, regional organisations and international institutions rather than replace them.

"These panels are not intended to replace the work of governments, regional organizations, or international institutions, rather they are intended to strengthen the work that way by providing intellectual, technical, and policy support as the international community advances from recognition to implementation," said the President.

The three-day conference is being attended by leaders and representatives from more than 80 countries following the adoption of a landmark United Nations resolution recognising the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.