Presidents, prime ministers, parliamentary leaders, and ministers from more than 80 countries have arrived in Ghana for the Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice, a major international gathering aimed at advancing discussions on reparations for the transatlantic slave trade and its long-lasting impacts.
The conference, scheduled for June 17–19, 2026, has been convened by President John Dramani Mahama and is expected to bring renewed global attention to reparatory justice efforts.
Among the high-profile participants are the presidents of Senegal, Namibia, Liberia, and São Tomé and Príncipe, alongside the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Vice Prime Minister of Equatorial Guinea, the Speaker of the Algerian Parliament, and various ministers and senior officials from Africa, the Caribbean, the Americas, and other regions.
French President Emmanuel Macron is also expected to attend the conference.
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said the conference is designed to build momentum for a coordinated global framework on reparatory justice. He noted that it will bring together political leaders, policymakers, academics, and advocates to explore practical pathways for addressing both historical and present-day consequences of the transatlantic slave trade.
The meeting comes just months after the adoption of United Nations Resolution A/RES/80/250, which recognised transatlantic enslavement as the gravest crime against humanity, strengthening global calls for redress and accountability.
President Mahama is expected to use the platform to promote international cooperation and push for actionable strategies that advance reparations and restorative justice initiatives.
The conference is expected to conclude with recommendations aimed at strengthening global advocacy, enhancing historical accountability, and shaping policies to address the enduring legacy of slavery and colonial exploitation.
Source: citinews
