By Amoako Kwame
President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana will host a high-level side event during the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2026 to advance the global campaign for reparatory justice for Africa and people of African descent.
The President made the announcement while addressing African leaders at the 21st Extraordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) in Luanda, Angola, where he provided an update on progress made on the international reparations agenda and outlined Ghana’s next steps.
The planned side event will bring together key stakeholders in the reparations campaign to present progress reports on initiatives launched following the adoption of the United Nations General Assembly’s reparations resolution in 2025.
According to President Mahama, the various panels established to drive the agenda will present updates on their work and offer recommendations covering the political, legal, historical and cultural dimensions of reparatory justice.
The President also highlighted the outcomes of the Next Steps Conference held in Accra in June 2026, which brought together African heads of state and experts to deliberate on the way forward for the global reparations campaign.
At the conference, Ghana expanded the scope of its reparations agenda to include indentured labour as a historical injustice. It also established a High-Level Advisory Council on Reparatory Justice, a Global Experts Panel on the Restitution of Cultural Heritage, and a Global Legal Panel on Reparatory Justice.
President Mahama, who was named the African Union Champion for Reparations following the June conference, said Ghana’s upcoming engagement at the UN General Assembly would provide an opportunity to assess progress and sustain international momentum for the campaign.
“As a follow-up, Ghana will host a high-level side event during the 81st UN General Assembly Session this September to receive progress reports from our established panels,” he said.
He added: “I have invited all Heads of State to join us as we continue to lead the charge for justice, restitution, and dignity for Africa and people of African descent worldwide.”
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