Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) has announced that distinguished African leaders, diplomats, human rights defenders and civil society champions will be honoured at the HRRG Global RightsCon 2026 Awards, which will take place in Abuja, Nigeria, next week.
The awards ceremony will be held as part of the 3rd Africa High-Level Civil Society Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) Conference, scheduled for July 14 to 17, 2026 at the Continental Hotel, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria, bringing together policymakers, governance experts, development practitioners and civil society organisations from across the continent.
Organised under the theme xChampioning Human Rights and Democratic Renewal,x the awards seek to recognise individuals and institutions that have demonstrated exceptional leadership in promoting democratic governance, human rights, digital rights, civic participation, diplomacy, social justice and sustainable development across Africa.
According to HRRG, the awards were initially planned to be presented during the RightsCon 2026 Summit in Lusaka, Zambia. However, following the cancellation of the global summit, the organizationxs Board of Directors and Awards Committee resolved to proceed with the initiative, citing the need to formally recognise the outstanding contributions of this yearxs selected honourees.
The organisation subsequently secured the Abuja conference as a new continental platform for the awards presentation.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana, Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, said the initiative is intended to celebrate leadership that continues to inspire democratic progress and strengthen human dignity across Africa.
xThe HRRG Global RightsCon Awards are more than a celebration of achievement. They recognise leadership rooted in integrity, courage, service and an unwavering commitment to the public good.
At a time when democratic values and civic freedoms continue to face significant challenges, it is equally important to honour individuals and institutions whose work strengthens governance, protects fundamental rights and inspires hope across our continent,x he said.
Dr. Wemakor disclosed that the identities of the award recipients will be officially unveiled during the ceremony in Abuja, where they will be honoured before delegates attending one of Africaxs foremost civil society conferences on governance, accountability and financial integrity.
He noted that this yearxs recipients comprise African Heads of State, senior government officials, diplomats, legal scholars, civil society leaders, development practitioners, youth advocates and institutions whose work has contributed significantly to strengthening democratic institutions, expanding civic space, promoting digital rights and advancing sustainable development.
According to him, hosting the awards during the continental AML/CFT Conference underscores the growing recognition of the relationship between accountable governance, financial transparency, civic participation and the protection of human rights across Africa.
HRRG also expressed appreciation to the organisers and strategic partners of the conference for providing what it described as an important continental platform to celebrate excellence in public service and leadership while reinforcing shared commitments to democracy, justice and inclusive development.
The organisation indicated that the full list of award recipients, official citations, photographs and highlights from the ceremony will be released immediately after the event.
About HRRG
Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) is a Ghana-based human rights and media-focused civil society organisation dedicated to promoting democratic accountability, social justice, civic participation and sustainable development through advocacy, investigative journalism, research, public education and strategic partnerships.
Since its establishment, the organisation has received several national and international recognitions, including the prestigious 5th UN Global Entreps Award for Best International Practice on Sustainability for its nationwide KTT Project, the Africa Peace Advocate Award, recognition among Ghanaxs 100 Most Impactful Changemakers, and acknowledgement by the World Bank for its contribution to the Equality of Opportunity for Sexual and Gender Minorities (EQOSOGI) Report.
HRRG also convenes the Youth Sub-Platform of the Ghana Civil Society Organizations Platform on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a network comprising more than 500 civil society organisations, and has represented Ghana at several regional and global forums on human rights, governance and sustainable development.
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