French President to speak at Mahama-led reparatory justice summit in Accra

French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to address a high-level reparatory justice conference convened by President John Dramani Mahama in Accra later this month.

The announcement was made by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in a social media post on Tuesday, confirming that the French leader will participate in the “Next Steps” Conference on Reparatory Justice scheduled for June 17 to 19, 2026.

According to the minister, “The Government of Ghana confirms that the President of France will address the Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice being hosted in Accra by President Mahama.”

The conference is being organized as a high-level consultative gathering to discuss the way forward following the landmark United Nations resolution on the trafficking of enslaved Africans. Promotional material for the event describes it as a forum focused on “the next steps to the landmark United Nations resolution on the trafficking of enslaved Africans,” and indicates that it is being convened by President Mahama in Accra.

Ablakwa stated that President Macron is expected to “welcome a good faith dialogue on historical injustice against Africans and outline France’s commitment to Reparatory Justice following the landmark adoption of the Ghana-led UN resolution declaring the transatlantic enslavement as the gravest crime against humanity.”

The summit is expected to attract policymakers, legal experts, diplomats, academics and representatives of regional and international organizations. The conference poster identifies institutions including the African Union and UNESCO among participating partners.

The gathering follows a major diplomatic achievement for Ghana at the United Nations. On March 25, 2026, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution A/80/L.48, a Ghana-led initiative declaring the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement as “the gravest crime against humanity.”

The resolution advocates reparatory justice and calls on member states to issue formal apologies for their roles in the transatlantic slave trade and enslavement. It secured the backing of 123 member states, while Argentina, Israel and the United States voted against it. Fifty-two countries abstained, including the United Kingdom and members of the European Union.

Macron’s participation is expected to add significant international attention to the Accra summit as discussions on reparatory justice continue to gain momentum across Africa, the Caribbean and other parts of the world.