The Government of Ghana has welcomed what it describes as a major breakthrough in the global reparatory justice movement following French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement that France will work with Ghana on reparations linked to the transatlantic enslavement of Africans.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, the Government praised President Macron’s “honest, open, conciliatory and exemplary leadership” after France marked the 25th anniversary of its law recognising slavery as a crime against humanity.
President John Dramani Mahama, who currently serves as the African Union Champion on Reparatory Justice, expressed appreciation to the French leader for accepting an invitation to address the upcoming “Next Steps” High-Level Conference on Reparatory Justice scheduled to take place in Accra from June 17 to June 19, 2026.
The conference is expected to bring together Heads of State, ministers, scholars and civil society actors from Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and the Americas to deepen discussions on reparations and historical accountability for slavery.
According to the statement, Ghana also welcomed France’s decision to establish a Ghana-France Scientific Commission in Accra to support research and engagement on reparatory justice and the historical consequences of slavery.
The Government further applauded France’s intention to repeal the colonial-era slavery statutes known as the Code Noir, describing the move as a critical step toward confronting historical injustices.
“Honest reckoning is the necessary foundation for everything that follows. We welcome France’s willingness to begin that work,” the statement noted.
The Ministry indicated that Ghana and its international partners remain prepared to engage France on a broad range of reparatory justice matters, including official apologies, compensation, guarantees of non-repetition, healing initiatives, return of artefacts and repeal of slavery-related laws.
The statement linked the latest development to the landmark United Nations General Assembly resolution adopted on March 25, 2026, which recognised the transatlantic enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.
The resolution, led by Ghana and backed by 123 member states, called on countries to engage constructively on the question of reparatory justice and is being viewed as a major diplomatic victory for Ghana on the global stage.
Government said President Macron’s announcement represents a positive response to the momentum generated by the resolution and reflects growing international willingness to engage in difficult but necessary conversations about historical injustice.
Ghana also confirmed that an expanded French delegation will participate in the Accra summit next month, where discussions are expected to focus on building institutional partnerships and developing frameworks for sustained international engagement on reparatory justice.
The Government reiterated that Ghana remains open to engaging bilaterally and multilaterally with all governments and institutions willing to pursue reparatory justice in good faith.
According to the statement, the March 2026 UN resolution has the potential to become a turning point in the global pursuit of justice for descendants of enslaved Africans, but achieving meaningful outcomes would require sustained dialogue, political commitment and international cooperation.
