News
Ghana to host global reparatory justice conference in June
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Ghana will host a High-Level Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice from June 17 to June 19, 2026, in Accra.
According to the Ministry, the conference will be held under the auspices of President John Dramani Mahama, who also serves as the African Union Champion for Reparations.
The conference follows the recent adoption of a landmark United Nations General Assembly resolution declaring the trafficking and enslavement of Africans during the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity.
The Ministry said the resolution received the support of 123 member states and marked a major step toward global recognition of historical injustices and the need for reparatory justice.
It explained that the conference will bring together world leaders, foreign affairs ministers, academics, historians, jurists, activists and international organisations to discuss the next phase of the reparations agenda.
According to the Ministry, discussions will focus on developing practical global frameworks and policy approaches to advance reparatory justice.
The conference is also expected to produce recommendations and action plans to guide future continental and international engagements on reparations.
As part of activities for the event, Ghana will host what officials described as the first-ever joint Juneteenth commemoration with African Americans at the Christiansborg Castle on June 19.
The Ministry noted that the event will provide participants with an opportunity to reflect on the history of the transatlantic slave trade while promoting remembrance, healing and justice.
It added that the conference would strengthen Africa’s collective voice on reparatory justice and deepen collaboration between African states, the diaspora and international partners.
The Ministry said further details on registration, participation and accreditation are available on the conference website.
It stated that President Mahama and the people of Ghana look forward to welcoming participants from around the world to Accra for what it described as a defining conference on reparatory justice.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Journalists Association ( GJA) has praised Ghana’s improved performance in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index as the country marked this year’s World Press Freedom Day.
In a statement issued on May 3, the Association said Ghana moved from 52nd to 39th position globally and ranked 4th in Africa in the latest index published by Reporters Without Borders.
The GJA described the achievement as a reflection of improvements across key indicators used in assessing press freedom around the world.
This year’s World Press Freedom Day was observed under the theme “Shaping a Future at Peace.”
The Association commended journalists, editors, media owners, civil society organisations, regulators and development partners for their efforts in promoting press freedom and responsible journalism in the country.
According to the GJA, the progress recorded demonstrates the impact of sustained advocacy and cooperation among stakeholders in Ghana’s media landscape.
The Association also praised the government and international partners for supporting efforts aimed at protecting media freedom and improving conditions for journalists.
It particularly commended President John Dramani Mahama, whom it described as a proud member of the Association, for his role in supporting improvements in Ghana’s press freedom ranking.
Despite the gains, the GJA said more work remains to be done to address issues such as journalist safety, media sustainability and legal reforms.
The Association called on the Government of Ghana and the Ghana Police Service to ensure that attacks against journalists are properly investigated and perpetrators punished.
It urged authorities to review laws, including parts of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008, which it said are sometimes used to intimidate journalists.
GJA President Albert Dwumfour reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to defending press freedom and promoting professionalism within the media.
“We will continue to speak truth to power, challenge injustices and hold duty-bearers accountable without fear or favour,” he stated.
The Association announced that it will organise a national event later this month to commemorate World Press Freedom Day and honour individuals and institutions that have contributed to media development in Ghana.
Meanwhile, Mr. Dwumfour is leading a delegation to Paris to participate in the centenary congress of the International Federation of Journalists from May 4 to May 7, 2026.
The congress is expected to bring together more than 300 journalists’ unions and associations from around the world to discuss issues affecting the future of journalism, including artificial intelligence, safety, youth participation, gender equality and media sustainability.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC) Chief Executive Officer, Professor Kobby Mensah, has been named amongst the 2026 Twelve Leaders Shaping Place Branding Right Now, by The Place Brand Observer’s (TPBO).
Unveiled on April 28, 2026, the list is selected annually by TPBO’s expert community to recognise and spotlight practitioners, policymakers and researchers advancing the field in meaningful ways.
Professor Mensah is the only West African tourism development executive featured in this year’s list, joining ministers, city leaders and scholars from The Gambia, Estonia, Sweden, the UK, Chile, Thailand, Sierra Leone and the United States.
TPBO’s citation read,
“Kobby Mensah represents a convergence of academic insight and applied leadership in destination development. His move into leading GTDC signals a broader shift in Ghana’s approach, positioning tourism as part of an integrated system connecting investment, innovation and experience design.”
With this honour, Professor Mensah enters the TPBO Who’s Who in Place Branding, a peer-recognised network of more than 500 professionals at the intersection of place, strategy and leadership.
A Recognition of Ghana’s New Direction
Professor Mensah was appointed CEO of GTDC by His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, bringing to the role a strong academic and strategic perspective on tourism development.
He is a Professor of Marketing at the University of Ghana Business School, a chartered marketer (CIM, UK), and a leading voice on political marketing, digital engagement and brand positioning in Africa.
He is widely credited for pioneering digital tourism education in Ghana through the Destination Legon Tourism Marketing Exhibition, which since 2014 has challenged students to use Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence and immersive storytelling to let travellers ‘consume’ destinations before arrival.
Since assuming leadership at GTDC, Professor Mensah has emphasized “integrating academic expertise with practical experience to drive national development,” championing innovation, sustainability and collaborative stakeholder models.
Statement from GTDC Board Chairman, Mr Ben Ohene Aryee:
The Board and Management of GTDC celebrate this global acknowledgment: “This is not Prof Mensah’s trophy alone, it is bigger than that. It is Ghana winning, and proof that the reset Agenda of His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama is working,” said the GTDC Board Chair, Mr. Ben Ohene Aryee.
He added that “Professor Mensah’s inclusion affirms what we have long believed: that tourism is no longer a standalone sector. It is the connective tissue between investment promotion, cultural diplomacy, youth employment and place experience. His academic rigour paired with applied leadership is exactly the convergence TPBO has recognised.”
In his response, Professor Mensah noted that “I am humbled to stand alongside colleagues who are redefining how nations and cities build credibility. For Ghana, this is a call to action. At GTDC, our mandate is to mobilise resources for investment, support SMEs, and enhance service levels across the sector. We will do this by treating Ghana’s brand as infrastructure – coordinated, evidence-based, and co-created with communities, creatives and investors.
This recognition belongs to the team at GTDC, to UGBS, and to every young Ghanaian innovator proving that place branding is not about slogans, it is about systems.”
About the Honour
TPBO’s “People to Watch” identifies leaders whose work moves place branding beyond communications into policy, economy and long-term value creation. Past honorees include ministers driving national repositioning, city directors aligning tourism with talent attraction, and scholars advancing measurable models of reputation and soft power.
Professor Mensah was profiled alongside:
- Abdoulie Jobe, Minister of Tourism, The Gambia
- Andres Kask, City of Tallinn
- Klara Enbom Burreau, Kiruna Municipality, Sweden
- Nabeela Farida Tunis, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Sierra Leone, among others.
About GTDC
The Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited is mandated to promote and mobilise resources for investment in tourism ventures, seek equity participation in joint ventures with local and international investors, and provide financial and technical assistance to small businesses in the tourism industry.
