President John Dramani Mahama has disclosed that Ghana, as the AU Champion for reparations, convened the Next Steps Conference in Accra in June 2026 to determine what next after the UN declared slavery as the gravest crime against humanity.
He indicates the Conference set up key structures to drive the reparatory justice agenda forward. “Based on this, Ghana, as the AU champion for reparations, convened what we call the Next Steps Conference in June this year in Accra.”
President Mahama, speaking at the 21st Extraordinary Session of Heads of State of the African Union in Luanda, Angola, on Sunday, August 30, 2026, revealed that participants at the Conference decided “to also add indentured labour as a historical injustice against humanity.”
According to Mahama, “the Next Steps Conference set up a high-level advisory Council on reparatory justice, a global experts panel on restitution of cultural heritage, and a global legal panel on reparatory justice.”
He provided a background of the feat that was attained at the UN General Assembly to declare slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity, highlighting the Union’s role in the process.
“Mr. Chairman, this was achieved by a coalition of the African Union, CARICOM, and the African Diaspora. This was a historic resolution, which, after 80 years of the existence of the UN, put on record, with a record majority of 123 member states endorsing the resolution,” he said.
President Mahama expressed gratitude to all supporting entities, stressing on what necessitated the need for the Next Steps Conference.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank all who worked tirelessly to achieve this important feat. But after the resolution, the important question became, what next after the resolution?” he added.
Since that declaration, Mahama explained that reparations, which were once considered a taboo topic, have become topical on the world agenda.
“Since the resolution on reparations, which were considered a taboo topic in the past, has become very topical on the world agenda. Many countries have started to talk about it and address the issue of reparations. They are returning looted artefacts,” he said.
He cited that France has recently repealed the Code Noir, which provided the legal basis for enslavement of Africans, while Pope Leo XIV formally apologised on behalf of the Catholic Church for their role in legitimising the slave trade.
He added that the Archbishop of Canterbury also apologised in Cape Coast for their role in the slave trade and announced a £100 million reparatory justice fund.
President Mahama announced that an update from the high-level panel will be presented as a side event of the 81st UNGA session in September.
“This year, as a side event of the 81st UNGA session in September, we will receive an update from the high-level panel and the committee of experts that was established in Accra,” he added, while extending invitation to colleague Heads of State to attend.
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