Ghana is set to host a high-level side event during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in September as part of efforts to advance the global campaign for reparatory justice for Africa and people of African descent.
President John Dramani Mahama, who serves as the African Union (AU) Champion for Reparations, disclosed this in a social media post after briefing colleagues at the 21st Extraordinary AU Summit in Luanda on the growing international momentum behind the reparations campaign.
He said the event will provide a platform for progress reports from panels established to advance Ghana’s reparatory justice agenda.
President Mahama said he had invited Heads of State to join Ghana as the country continues to lead efforts for justice, restitution and dignity for Africa and people of African descent worldwide.
The initiative follows the Next Steps Conference held in Accra in June, where Ghana expanded its reparatory justice mandate to include indentured labour as a historical injustice.
The conference also led to the establishment of 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.
According to President Mahama, the campaign has gained significant international attention following the historic UN General Assembly Resolution 8250, achieved through a coalition involving the AU, CARICOM and the African Diaspora.
He said issues that were previously considered taboo are now reshaping global diplomacy, citing the return of looted African artefacts, legislative repeals such as France’s Code Noir, and historic acknowledgements and commitments from international institutions.
The September UN event is expected to serve as another major platform for Ghana to push the reparations agenda and strengthen international cooperation towards addressing historical injustices against Africans and people of African descent.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Mavis fantevi
