President John Dramani Mahama has declared that Ghana will host a significant side event during the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2026. This initiative is part of ongoing efforts to promote the global campaign for reparatory justice for Africa and individuals of African descent.
The President made this announcement while addressing fellow African leaders at the 21st Extraordinary Summit of the African Union (AU) in Luanda, Angola. He updated them on progress on the international reparations agenda and the next steps Ghana plans to take.
The anticipated side event is expected to serve as a crucial platform for stakeholders engaged in the reparations campaign to share updates on their activities and highlight the advancements made since the initiative’s launch in Accra.
President Mahama said the event will feature progress reports from the various panels established to advance the work stemming from the reparations resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2025.
These panels are anticipated to offer expertise and recommendations concerning the political, legal, historical, and cultural aspects of the reparations campaign.
The President also mentioned the gathering of heads of state and experts that took place in June 2026, during which he was designated as the African Union Champion for Reparations.
“In June this year, we convened the Next Steps Conference in Accra. We broadened our mandate to encompass indentured labor as a historical injustice. Additionally, we 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.
“As a subsequent action, 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.
I have extended invitations to all Heads of State to participate with us as we persist in our efforts to advocate for justice, restitution, and dignity for Africa and individuals of African descent globally.
