Ghana leads the world towards restorative justice at the Accra conference

Written by: Mohammed Omran

Ghana is preparing to host one of the most prominent international gatherings related to historical justice issues, through a high-level conference entitled “Next Steps” on restorative justice, scheduled to be held in the capital Accra from June 17 to 19, 2026, with the expected participation of a number of heads of state, decision-makers and international experts.

Ghana leads the world towards restorative justice at the Accra conference

The conference is being organized under the auspices of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, in his capacity as the “African Union’s Champion of Reparations,” as part of growing African and international efforts to push the issue of justice for victims of transatlantic slavery onto a more concrete and practical path, after years of political and academic debate.

The Ghanaian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in a statement issued on May 4 that the conference aims to translate the recent resolution issued by the United Nations General Assembly, which was supported by 123 countries, into practical and implementable mechanisms and policies, thereby enhancing international recognition of historical injustice and supporting the path of reparative justice.

This move is based on a UN resolution that was considered a turning point in the global discourse on reparations, as it called for strengthening dialogue between countries on ways to achieve justice, including financial compensation, debt relief, institutional reform, and historical recognition of crimes related to slavery and colonialism.

According to the statement, the Accra conference seeks to establish a common global framework for implementing the UN resolution, through the development of institutional mechanisms and coordinated methodologies that ensure the continuity of international efforts on this issue.

The conference is expected to be attended by heads of state and foreign ministers, along with academics, historians and representatives of civil society organizations, and is expected to issue a final document that includes practical visions for implementing the principles of restorative justice through legal and financial frameworks and international partnerships.

Observers believe that Ghana is strengthening its diplomatic position through this conference, benefiting from its growing role as a link between Africa and the African diaspora, through previous initiatives such as “Year of Return” and “After Return,” which have strengthened its presence in the African identity file and the restoration of historical ties.

Officials emphasize that the conference represents a serious attempt to move from the ethical framework and theoretical debate to the formulation of practical policies, in light of the growing international interest in linking the historical legacy of slavery to current economic and developmental imbalances.

Ghana to host international summit to advance reparation justice for victims of slavery and colonialism

Despite the growing momentum, the issue of compensation still faces complex legal and political challenges, in the absence of a binding international framework, and the differing positions of countries regarding historical responsibility and implementation mechanisms.

However, supporters of the initiative believe that the Accra meeting could represent a potential turning point in the course of global justice, if it succeeds in translating international political consensus into practical, actionable commitments.