On July 18, 2025, the plush halls of the Marriott Hotel in Accra will echo with voices from across the globe, united by a single purpose: addressing the human rights crisis in North Korea.
Among these voices will be one of Ghana’s most prominent human rights advocates—Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, founder and executive director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG).
It’s a moment that marks not only a personal milestone in Dr. Wemakor’s journey but also a powerful statement about the rising influence of African voices in global human rights conversations.
The International Seminar on Enhancing Human Rights Activities in North Korea, organized by the World Institute of Intercultural Services (WIIS) and supported by South Korea’s Ministry of Unification, seeks to build momentum around international action.
This year, the seminar is taking a unique turn—incorporating African perspectives into a dialogue often dominated by Western and Asian voices.
For Dr. Wemakor, the invitation to deliver a keynote address is more than recognition; it is an opportunity to bridge continents through advocacy.
In a session titled “Promoting International Pressure and Policy Recommendations,” he is expected to outline concrete strategies for bolstering international solidarity—especially from Africa—in confronting North Korea’s entrenched human rights abuses.
Over the years, Dr. Wemakor has earned a reputation for being much more than a human rights defender. He’s a force of nature—a journalist, a mobilizer, and a strategic thinker whose work has impacted communities at every level.
His voice is one that echoes from the streets of Accra to the corridors of the United Nations.
At the heart of his work lies a mission: to empower the voiceless—women, children, girls, and marginalized populations.
Through HRRG, the organization he founded, he has built a formidable coalition of journalists, lawyers, and activists all committed to advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
But Dr. Wemakor’s reach goes far beyond Ghana. His influence stretches across continents. He’s spoken at international platforms like the Pan African Human Rights and Social Justice Conference in Nairobi, the International Seminar on South Korea: COVID-19 and Human Rights Abuses, and the 2020 UN High-Level Political Forum. At each stop, he has urged justice, inclusion, and global solidarity.
In Ghana, he is the convener of the Youth Sub-Platform of the Ghana CSOs Platform on SDGs, a national coalition of over 500 civil society organizations.
As a steering committee member, he’s helped champion youth engagement, promote development inclusion, and deepen awareness of the SDGs across the country.
In early 2025, he was appointed to a Technical Advocacy Committee tasked with supporting Ghana’s Non-Profit Organization (NPO) Bill—a legislative effort born out of extensive CSO consultations aimed at strengthening the role of civil society in national development. His selection speaks volumes of the trust placed in his leadership.
Dr. Wemakor’s global impact took a dramatic turn in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when HRRG spearheaded a media campaign exposing human rights violations in South Korea.
The campaign highlighted more than 5,500 abuses, including the arrest of Mr. Lee Man-hee, founder of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, and the persecution of over 220,000 church members.
This powerful initiative mobilized international bodies—including the UN and human rights watchdogs—and ultimately played a key role in securing Mr. Lee’s release.
This is not the only time Dr. Wemakor has stood at the intersection of justice and global activism.
His efforts have been internationally recognized:
- In 2023, he was named an Africa Peace Advocate.
- In 2024, he was listed among Ghana’s 100 Most Impactful Changemakers.
- He’s a winner of the prestigious 5th UN Global Entreps Award.
- A finalist for the African Human Rights Defenders Shield Award
- And recipient of an Honorary Award for Peace, Security, and Education (2021).
- His organization emerged finalist for the Africans Rising Activism Award (Movement of the Year Category 2020)
As a journalist, he’s earned accolades like the National Migration Media Award (2018) and the GIJ Most Influential Student Media Personnel Award (2016). He was also celebrated during the Ghana Institute of Journalism’s 60th Anniversary for his outstanding SDG reporting.
In 2024, his commitment to human dignity was honored with a doctorate in executive leadership in humanity from the International Kingdom University in Florida, along with a Global Doctoral Humanitarian and Ministerial Excellence Award.
He is also a fellow of WITNESS’s Fortifying the Truth Cohort and a participant in the Bloomberg Media Initiative’s Africa Financial Journalism Program.
Now, as he prepares to take the stage in Accra, Dr. Wemakor joins an esteemed lineup of global experts, including Professor Park Hung Kook, CEO of World Institute of Intercultural Services (WIIS), a former UN ambassador of South Korea,
Mr. Ju, Kwon Neung, Chairperson, TIMJ, and Ms. Kim Bomin, North Korean defector. Together, they will contribute to a seminar designed to foster international collaboration, spark dialogue, and forge a path toward justice for the oppressed.
Dr. Wemakor’s message promises to be powerful, grounded in lived experiences and global activism.
As he connects African resilience with international policy, his keynote will likely leave an indelible mark—not just on the audience in Accra, but on human rights discourse worldwide.
His story is a reminder: change begins when one voice dares to speak—and others dare to listen.
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