A high-level technical delegation from the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC) and partner institutions was hosted by the Office for Global Reparations (OGR) of the Republic of Ghana, led by Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Presidential Special Envoy for Reparations, in Accra, Ghana.
The core delegation was led by the Head of AU–ECOSOCC Programmes, Mr. Kyeretwie Osei, and included Mr. Makmid Kamara and Ms. Rita Agyen of Reform Initiatives, as well as Ms. Jasmine Mickens of Open Society–TrustAfrica. The delegation was further supported by technical experts, including Dr. Verene Shepherd, Ms. Gaynell Curry, Dr. Panashe Chigumadzi, and Dr. Tshepo Madlingozi.
The engagement, held on January 12, 2026, marked the beginning of a focused research and coordination mission in Ghana, scheduled to run from January 12 to 16, 2026, aimed at strengthening Africa-led efforts to advance reparations justice.
During the meeting, the AU-ECOSOCC delegation presented key updates on developments within the African Union’s reparations framework, reaffirming AU-ECOSOCC’s role as the AU’s lead partner on reparations. The delegation formally acknowledged and commended President John Dramani Mahama for his pioneering role as the first Head of State to deliberately and institutionally champion the reparations agenda, providing political leadership and legitimacy to the continental effort.
Discussions focused on strengthening strategic collaboration between AU-ECOSOCC and OGR to advance reparations justice for Africans and people of African descent. Key areas identified for cooperation included joint research, policy coordination, advocacy, global diplomatic engagement, and funding mobilisation.
The engagement concluded with a shared commitment to deepen collaboration and advance an Africa-led, globally credible reparations framework. Participants also adopted the slogan Reparations Now to reflect the urgency and collective resolve expressed during the discussions.
