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A high-level strategic dialogue was held at Osu Castle on Wednesday, 21 January 2026, between Ghana’s Presidential Special Envoy on Global Reparations and a Ghanaian–German delegation. The engagement focused on forging innovative collaborative models to advance reparative justice advocacy, deepen international cultural cooperation, and address the urgent restoration of Ghana’s historic forts and castles.
The dialogue was presided over by His Excellency Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Presidential Special Envoy on Global Reparations. Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, German artist and educationist Amélie Esterházy, and a delegation from Diplomatic Affairs Media and Communications Ltd., producers of the acclaimed Diplomatic Affairs television programme, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Harriet Nartey.
In his opening remarks, H.E. Dr. Spio-Garbrah outlined the critical mandate of his office, underscoring Ghana’s leadership in advancing a constructive, development-oriented global reparations agenda. He emphasised that the preservation of heritage sites remains central to safeguarding historical memory and constitutes a foundational asset for future-oriented cultural and economic development.
Drawing inspiration from the Special Envoy’s recent international advocacy efforts at the 4th edition of A Night with the Diplomats, German artist Amélie Esterházy expressed strong interest in establishing a formal platform to support the rehabilitation of Ghana’s deteriorating coastal fortifications.
Mrs. Esterházy presented a proposed cross-cultural arts initiative aimed at convening Ghanaian and German artists to produce a collective body of work to be exhibited and auctioned in Germany, with proceeds dedicated to the restoration and preservation of Ghana’s heritage sites. “We cannot change the past, but we can build the future,” she noted, framing art as a bridge between historical accountability and future reconstruction one capable of stimulating renewed bilateral cooperation.
Discussions further highlighted the importance of personal and intergenerational historical narratives, including the involvement of a German family with direct ancestral links to specific castles in Ghana, adding a profound human dimension to the proposed partnership.
H.E. Dr. Spio-Garbrah welcomed the proposal as a promising model for substantive bilateral cooperation and advised that the initiative be formally aligned through engagement with the German Ambassador to ensure coherence with diplomatic protocols and existing bilateral relations.
To advance the initiative, the Office of the Presidential Special Envoy requested the immediate development of a comprehensive concept paper outlining the project’s objectives, governance framework, timelines, funding mechanisms, and implementation modalities. The Office further underscored the importance of financial transparency, strong partnerships with Ghanaian institutions, and rigorous vetting of participating artists.
The Chief Executive Officer of Diplomatic Affairs Media and Communications Ltd., Harriet Nartey, pledged the full support of her organisation to ensure sustained national and international visibility for the collaboration, highlighting the critical role of strategic media in contemporary diplomacy—particularly where diplomacy is deployed as a tool to respond to the needs and aspirations of the people.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to continued engagement and coordination. All parties reaffirmed their resolve to advance a collaborative framework that positions reparative justice not merely as redress for historical injustices, but as a catalyst for cultural renewal, heritage preservation, and sustainable development.
