Presidents, prime ministers, parliamentary leaders and ministers from more than 80 countries have arrived in Ghana to participate in the Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice, a high-level international gathering convened by President John Dramani Mahama.
Among the dignitaries attending the conference are the Presidents of Senegal, Namibia, Liberia, and São Tomé and Príncipe, the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, the Speaker of the Algerian Parliament, as well as ministers and senior government officials from across Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and other regions.
The conference is expected to provide a platform for global leaders, policymakers, academics and civil society actors to deliberate on advancing the agenda for reparatory justice and strengthening international cooperation on issues related to historical injustices arising from the transatlantic slave trade.
The gathering comes just three months after the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/RES/80/250, which declared the transatlantic enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.
The landmark resolution has been widely viewed as a significant milestone in the global movement seeking recognition, accountability and restorative measures for the enduring consequences of slavery and colonial exploitation.
The Minister for Foreign Affiars and Regional Integration, Samuel Okdzeto Ablakwa said participants at the conference are expected to examine practical pathways for implementing the principles outlined in the resolution, including advocacy for reparations, economic justice, cultural restoration and enhanced partnerships between Africa and the global African diaspora.
According to him, Ghana’s hosting of the conference underscores the country’s longstanding commitment to promoting Pan-African solidarity and championing international conversations on historical justice and the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.
