Ghana will host an international high-level reparations conference in Accra from June 17 to 19, 2026, the government has announced.
The summit aims to galvanise renewed global action on historical justice, remembrance, and the enduring legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.
The announcement was made in a statement by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Government Communications Spokesperson and Minister, following a recent apology by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV for the Holy See’s complicity in the transatlantic slave trade.
In his encyclical, the Pope described slavery as “a wound in Christian memory” and formally apologised on behalf of the Church for its role in the slave trade and related systems of oppression.
Welcoming the Pope’s apology, the Ghanaian government reaffirmed its commitment to partnering with international allies, faith communities, civil society, and people of conscience to advance historical justice, remembrance, and the restoration of human dignity.
“Ghana remains committed to working with international partners, faith communities, civil society, and people of conscience around the world to advance efforts aimed at historical justice, remembrance, and the restoration of human dignity,” the statement read.
“In this regard, Ghana looks forward to welcoming the international community to Accra from 17th to 19th June 2026 for the High-Level Consultative Conference being convened by His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, on the next steps following the adoption of the Resolution, aimed at sustaining global engagement on historical justice, remembrance, and human dignity.”
The conference will focus on concrete follow-up measures after the adoption of the said Resolution, ensuring continued global momentum on truth, healing, and accountability.
The government described the Pope’s apology as “an act of moral courage and an important contribution to the ongoing global pursuit of historical truth, human dignity, and justice.”
It noted that the apology arrives at a pivotal moment of global reflection on slavery and colonialism, stressing that confronting historical injustices demands both truth-telling and moral responsibility.
“Honest recognition of this painful history remains an essential step toward healing, reconciliation, and a more just future,” the statement added.
President John Dramani Mahama, who has been a leading voice on the issue, was cited as viewing the Pope’s action as a major milestone in international discussions on historical accountability.
At the last United Nations General Assembly, President Mahama introduced a motion to declare the transatlantic slave trade and the enslavement of Africans as “the gravest crime against humanity”, a move he described as a landmark in preserving historical memory and advancing justice.
Ghana also expressed hope that countries which did not initially support the UN resolution would eventually align with its objectives and participate in its implementation.
President Mahama further expressed deep appreciation to Pope Leo XIV for the apology, adding that he looks forward to sustained global engagement on truth, healing, and reconciliation.
