Ghana’s human rights giant Dr. Wemakor to lead West Africa’s voice at Pan-African conference in Kenya
Human Rights Reporters
3 min read
Founder and Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, has been officially selected to represent Ghana and the West African civil society bloc at the upcoming Pan-African Conference on National Security and Human Rights scheduled to take place from August 17 to 19, 2025, at the Argyle Grand Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.
Dr. Wemakor will deliver the Welcome Remark on behalf of civil society organizations in West Africa. His selection was confirmed by HAKI Africa, organizers of the conference through its Africa Security Sector Accountability Programme (ASSAP), with support from the Open Society Foundations.
The conference is expected to bring together key stakeholders from across Africa including human rights defenders, policymakers, government officials, civil society leaders, academics, media practitioners, youth groups, persons with disabilities, and development partners from East, West, Central, North, and Southern Africa.
Themed “The Conflict Between National Security Obligations and Human Rights in Africa: Towards a People-Centered Security Framework,” the event will explore the rising tension between national security efforts and the protection of civil liberties, especially in light of recent developments across the continent.
According to HAKI Africa’s Programmes Manager, Mathias Shipeta, Dr. Wemakor’s participation is integral to the objectives of the conference. He described him as a critical voice in the promotion of human rights and security sector accountability in Africa.
The conference comes at a time when several African governments have enacted expansive security laws ranging from cybercrime to public protest regulations that civil society organizations argue are undermining fundamental rights.
Reports of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and the excessive use of force by state actors have drawn widespread concern.
Among the highlights of the two-day summit will be keynote addresses, panel discussions, strategic planning sessions, and a memorial lecture in honor of George Collins Owuor, a renowned Kenyan human rights and governance expert.
Dr. Wemakor brings over a decade of experience in human rights advocacy. In July 2025, he delivered a keynote at the International Seminar on Enhancing Human Rights Activities in North Korea in Seoul, organized by the World Institute of Intercultural Services (WIIS) in partnership with Korea’s Ministry of Unification. His remarks called for greater global action against persistent human rights violations in North Korea.
In August 2024, he also played a leading role in launching the Civic Space Outlook documentary in Accra, an initiative by Spaces for Change (S4C) supported by the Ford Foundation, which spotlighted the shrinking civic space in Ghana ahead of national elections.
Dr. Wemakor currently serves as the Convener of the Youth Sub-Platform of the Ghana CSOs Platform on the SDGs, a coalition of over 500 civil society organizations. He is also a member of the Technical Advocacy Committee working on Ghana’s proposed Non-Profit Organization (NPO) Bill, aimed at protecting civic space and ensuring regulatory transparency.
His national and international engagements have earned him numerous accolades, including:
- UN Global Entreps Award (5th Edition)
- Africa Peace Advocate Award (2023)
- Finalist, African Human Rights Defenders Shield Award (2023)
- Honorary Award for Peace, Security, and Education (2021)
- One of Ghana’s 100 Most Impactful Changemakers (2024)
- Honorary Doctorate in Executive Leadership in Humanity from the International Kingdom University, Florida
Dr. Wemakor is also a Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa Fellow, Fortifying the Truth Cohort Fellow (WITNESS), and his work has been recognized by the World Bank in the second edition of its EQOSOGI Report.
He has received awards for excellence in media and advocacy, including the National Migration Media Award (2018), Most Influential Student Media Personnel (2016) by the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), and the GIJ 60th Anniversary SDG Media Contest.
Speaking ahead of the conference, Dr. Wemakor reiterated the importance of building African security systems that prioritize the rights and dignity of citizens.
“The future of Africa lies in building security systems that uphold human dignity, transparency, and justice—not just the consolidation of state control,” he stated.
His participation is expected to amplify Ghana’s voice on continental security and human rights matters, and to help shape regional strategies that safeguard civic space in the face of growing authoritarianism across Africa.
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