Accra July 7, GNA - Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), together with its global partners and stakeholders, has announced that the HRRG Global RightsCon 2026 Awards will be presented in Abuja Nigeria.
It will be during the third Africa High-Level Civil Society Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Conference, scheduled for 14–17 July 2026 in Abuja, Nigeria.
A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra said the awards, to be presented on the theme “Championing Human Rights and Democratic Renewal,” seeks to recognize outstanding leadership and exceptional contributions to democratic governance, human rights, digital rights, civic participation, diplomacy, sustainable development, social justice, and regional cooperation across Africa and beyond.
The HRRG Global RightsCon 2026 Awards were originally conceived as a special recognition initiative aligned with the RightsCon 2026 Summit in Lusaka, Zambia.
Although the summit was subsequently cancelled, the Human Rights Reporters Ghana Board and Awards Committee resolved that the exceptional achievements of the selected honourees deserved formal recognition and therefore secured a new continental platform for the awards presentation in Abuja.
The awards will bring together an exceptional group of recipients comprising African Heads of State, senior government officials, distinguished diplomats, internationally respected legal scholars, human rights defenders, civil society leaders, development practitioners, youth advocates, and institutions whose work continues to strengthen democracy, protect civic space, promote digital rights, and advance sustainable development across the continent.
Speaking ahead of the awards ceremony, Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana, Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, said the initiative seeksto celebrate outstanding leadership and reaffirm Africa’s collective commitment to justice, democratic renewal, accountable governance, and the protection of fundamental human rights.
“The HRRG Global RightsCon Awards are more than a celebration of achievement; they are a recognition of leadership rooted in integrity, courage, service, and a steadfast commitment to the public good. At a time when democratic values and civic freedoms continue to face significant challenges, it is equally important to recognize those whose work inspires hope, strengthens institutions, and advances human dignity across Africa.”
Dr. Wemakor noted that the identities of this year’s recipients will be officially unveiled during the awards presentation in Abuja, where HRRG and its partners will celebrate individuals and institutions whose contributions have had a lasting impact on governance, human rights, peacebuilding, civic engagement, and sustainable development.
The awards ceremony forms part of the official programme of the 3rd Africa High-Level Civil Society AML/CFT Conference, a major continental gathering that brings together policymakers, civil society organisations, governance experts, development practitioners, and international stakeholders to promote financial integrity, accountability, civic resilience, and democratic governance throughout Africa.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba