Ghana is hosting a major international conference aimed at advancing reparatory justice after the United Nations adopted a landmark resolution recognizing the trafficking and enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.
The three-day gathering, titled “Next Steps,” is taking place in Accra and brings together heads of state, ministers, legal experts, historians, researchers, civil society groups and representatives from more than 80 countries. Organizers say the goal is to move the reparations debate beyond symbolism and toward practical commitments involving reconciliation, restitution and global cooperation.
The conference is the first major international gathering on the issue since the UN General Assembly adopted a Ghana-led resolution in March. Ghana introduced the proposal on behalf of African Union member states, and the vote marked one of the strongest international acknowledgments yet of the historical and ongoing consequences of the transatlantic slave trade.
The resolution calls for inclusive dialogue on reparatory justice and the return of cultural and other properties of value to their countries of origin. It also encourages formal apologies, historical truth-telling and discussions about compensation and institutional reforms.
TRENDING TODAY
The vote was politically significant but not unanimous. A total of 123 countries supported the resolution, while the United States, Israel and Argentina voted against it. Fifty-two countries, including the United Kingdom and all European Union member states, abstained.
For Ghana and other supporters, the resolution represents a shift from remembrance alone toward accountability. Ghana’s concept note for the conference frames the moment as a departure from commemorative gestures and a move toward historical truth, dialogue, reconciliation and justice.
The Accra summit includes a Juneteenth event at Osu Castle, a 17th-century fortress in Ghana’s capital that was used during the transatlantic slave trade. Holding part of the conference there gives the event symbolic weight, connecting modern diplomatic discussions with one of the physical sites tied to the history being addressed.
Expected participants include African Union Commission Chair Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and leaders from Ghana, Liberia, Namibia, Senegal and France. The involvement of Caribbean representatives is also important because Caribbean governments and civil society groups have long been among the strongest advocates for reparations.
The conference is expected to focus on building a framework for global action. Organizers say discussions will include possible panels on reparatory justice and restitution, institutional mechanisms to follow up on the UN resolution and strategies for turning political momentum into concrete commitments.
The reparations debate has gained new momentum in recent months. French President Emmanuel Macron recently called for France to address its role in the enslavement of Africans and used the word “reparations,” a term previous French leaders largely avoided. Pope Leo XIV also issued a historic apology for the Vatican’s role in legitimizing slavery and for the delay in condemning the practice.
Advocates say these developments show that the global conversation is changing. They argue that reparatory justice is not only about financial compensation, but also about acknowledging historical harm, returning stolen cultural property, reforming institutions and addressing inequalities that continue today.
Critics and some governments remain cautious. Some countries have objected to language that they say may create legal responsibility for historical actions or rank crimes against humanity. Others support historical recognition but have stopped short of endorsing direct reparations.
Still, the Ghana conference shows that African and Caribbean leaders are trying to build a wider coalition. Representatives from Latin America, the Caribbean, civil rights organizations and international institutions are expected to take part.
The central question now is whether the Accra meeting can turn a non-binding UN resolution into a sustained diplomatic process. Supporters hope it will help create structures that keep reparatory justice on the global agenda long after the conference ends.
Why It Matters
The conference matters because it follows one of the strongest UN acknowledgments of the transatlantic slave trade’s historical and ongoing impact. For African and Caribbean leaders, the issue is not only about the past, but also about modern inequalities, cultural restitution and global accountability.
It also matters because the reparations debate is moving from activism and commemorations into formal diplomacy. If governments create lasting institutions around the issue, the discussion could shape future relations between Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and the Americas.
What Comes Next
The Accra conference is expected to produce proposals for how countries and institutions can act on the UN resolution. That may include frameworks for restitution, dialogue, apologies, cultural property returns and future legal or diplomatic processes.
The next test will be whether governments that supported or abstained from the UN resolution are willing to join practical negotiations — and whether countries that opposed the resolution remain outside the process or engage in future talks.
