President Macron To Address Reparatory Justice Conference In Accra

The government of Ghana has announced that French President Emmanuel Macron will address the upcoming Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice in Accra, a major international gathering expected to advance discussions on reparations for the transatlantic slave trade and colonial-era injustices.

According to Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, President Macron is expected to participate in the conference, scheduled for June 17 to 19 in Accra, where he will welcome what he described as a “good faith dialogue” on historical injustices committed against Africans and outline France’s commitment to reparatory justice.

The conference comes less than three months after Ghana secured a landmark diplomatic victory at the United Nations General Assembly.

On March 25, 2026, the UN adopted a Ghana-led resolution declaring the transatlantic trafficking and enslavement of Africans the “gravest crime against humanity.” The resolution was approved by 123 member states, with three countries voting against and 52 abstaining.

The vote represented one of the most significant international endorsements of the reparations movement in recent years and placed Ghana at the centre of global efforts to seek recognition and redress for the enduring consequences of slavery.

The resolution also called for dialogue on reparatory justice measures, including formal apologies, restitution of cultural property, compensation and institutional reforms.

President Mahama personally championed the initiative after being mandated by the African Union to lead the continent’s reparations agenda. The AU has designated the period from 2026 to 2035 as the Decade of Reparations, with Ghana tasked to play a leading role in advancing the campaign.

The upcoming Accra conference is expected to build on the momentum generated by the UN vote by bringing together political leaders, scholars, civil society groups and representatives of African and diaspora communities to discuss practical pathways for implementing reparatory justice.

Macron’s participation is particularly significant given recent developments in France. In May, the French leader publicly acknowledged the need for “reparations” linked to slavery during a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of France’s recognition of slavery as a crime against humanity.

The remarks were widely seen as a notable shift in French policy, even though Paris has yet to outline specific reparations measures.

France was among several European countries that abstained during the UN vote on Ghana’s resolution, arguing that the text could create a hierarchy among crimes against humanity. However, Macron’s decision to address the Accra conference suggests growing engagement with international discussions on historical accountability and restorative justice.

The reparations movement has gained increasing prominence across Africa and the Caribbean in recent years. Advocates argue that the economic and social consequences of centuries of slavery and colonial exploitation continue to affect people of African descent worldwide and require concrete forms of redress.

Supporters say reparatory justice extends beyond financial compensation to include educational investments, cultural restoration, return of looted artefacts, institutional reforms and formal acknowledgements of historical wrongdoing.

Ghana has emerged as one of the leading voices in that campaign. Ahead of the UN vote, the government argued that recognising the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity was necessary to preserve historical truth and establish a framework for reconciliation and justice.

Foreign Minister Ablakwa described the resolution as part of a broader effort to confront the enduring legacies of slavery while promoting healing and global dialogue.

The June conference in Accra is expected to further define the next phase of that effort, as African and diaspora leaders seek to translate growing international recognition of historical injustices into concrete discussions on reparatory justice and long-term restitution.