The global reparatory justice movement has reached a critical stage, moving from the recognition of historical injustices towards practical action.
In 2026, significant developments at the United Nations General Assembly, the High-Level Consultative Conference in Accra and the 81st UN General Assembly have strengthened the call for international cooperation and concrete measures to address the enduring consequences of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.
The central question is no longer simply whether historical injustices should be acknowledged, but how that recognition can be translated into meaningful and sustainable action.
From recognition to action
On 25 March 2026, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution recognising the trafficking of enslaved Africans and the racialised chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.
The resolution, supported by 123 Member States, marked a significant milestone in the international pursuit of reparatory justice.
However, recognition alone cannot address the consequences of historical injustice.
This understanding informed Ghana’s High-Level Consultative Conference on the Next Steps in Accra, held from 17 to 19 June 2026 under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, the African Union Champion for Reparations.
The conference produced the Accra Next Steps Commitments on Reparatory Justice, providing a framework for advancing the global reparations agenda.
The commitments covered historical truth and education, cultural restitution, legal and institutional reforms, economic justice, reconciliation and engagement with the African diaspora.
Accra, therefore, established a road map for translating international recognition into practical measures.
From Accra to New York
On 23 September 2026, Ghana, France and Germany co-hosted a high-level side event on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly on the theme, “From Commitments to Action on Reparatory Justice: Advancing International Cooperation for the Return and Restitution of Cultural Properties and Heritage.”
The event reinforced the importance of moving beyond declarations towards practical international cooperation, particularly in the return of cultural properties and heritage to their countries and communities of origin.
The discussions highlighted that restitution is not merely about returning objects.
It is also about restoring cultural identity, dignity, historical memory and the rights of communities whose heritage was taken away.
For Ghana and many African countries, the issue remains significant, given the historical removal of cultural objects, archives and other heritage resources.
The discussions strengthened calls for transparent provenance research, access to historical records, effective legal mechanisms and stronger partnerships between countries of origin and institutions holding these properties.
The New York engagement thus reinforced the objectives established in Accra, placing cultural restitution firmly within the international implementation agenda.
Building the framework for implementation
The Accra process also advanced the establishment of three global mechanisms: the Global Advisory Panel on Reparatory Justice, the Global Expert Panel on the Restitution of Cultural Heritage, and the Global Legal Panel on Reparatory Justice.
These mechanisms are expected to contribute to political coordination, practical approaches to restitution and the examination of legal pathways for reparatory justice.
Their effectiveness, however, will depend on clear responsibilities, sustained international support and measurable outcomes.
The work ahead
Several priorities must guide the next phase of the reparatory justice agenda.
First, governments and relevant institutions must strengthen historical documentation, provenance research and access to archives to support restitution claims and preserve historical truth.
Second, international cooperation must be enhanced to establish practical and transparent processes for the return of cultural properties, human remains and other heritage resources.
Third, African museums, archives, universities and traditional institutions require adequate resources and technical capacity to preserve and manage returned heritage.
Fourth, the commitments adopted in Accra must be supported by monitoring, regular reporting and continued diplomatic engagement to ensure that progress is sustained beyond international conferences.
Finally, education and diaspora engagement must remain central.
Public understanding of historical injustices and their continuing consequences is essential to building lasting partnerships between Africa, the Caribbean and people of African descent worldwide.
Reparatory justice must also be understood beyond financial compensation. It encompasses restitution, formal apologies, memorialisation, institutional reforms and measures that address the enduring effects of historical exploitation.
Conclusion
The journey from Accra to New York has demonstrated that international recognition must be followed by implementation.
The March UN resolution established an important foundation, the June Accra conference provided a framework for action, and the September UNGA engagement reinforced the need for international cooperation.
For Ghana, the responsibility is both national and international.
As a country deeply connected to the history of the transatlantic slave trade, Ghana has an important role in advancing historical truth, cultural restitution and meaningful partnerships for reparatory justice.
The next phase must focus on tangible results: heritage returned, institutions strengthened, historical records made accessible and commitments translated into practical action.
The road ahead requires sustained political will, international cooperation and accountability.
The ultimate objective is to move from historical recognition to meaningful redress and a more just future for Africa and people of African descent worldwide.
The writer is the
Head of Public Relations
Office of the Presidential Envoy for Reparations.
