Joseph Wemakor

Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor is a prominent Ghanaian human rights advocate, peace ambassador, journalist, and development communicator, widely recognized for his bold and sustained contributions to human rights, child protection, women’s rights, gender equality, and the defense of marginalized and vulnerable populations.

He is the Founder and Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), a frontline civil society organization advancing human dignity, social justice, and accountability, with a strong focus on women, children, youth, rural communities, and other marginalized groups.

For over a decade, Dr. Wemakor has led high-impact advocacy on child protection and child labour, women’s rights, gender justice, land and environmental rights, climate justice, and sustainable livelihoods.

Through HRRG, he empowers women, children, farmers, landowners, youth entrepreneurs, and marginalized communities to claim their rights, engage decision-makers, and participate meaningfully in governance processes.

Dr. Wemakor also plays a strategic leadership role in Ghana’s civil society and SDG ecosystem.

He serves as Convener of the Ghana Civil Society Organizations Platform on SDGs (Youth), representing over 500 CSOs nationwide, and as a Steering Committee Member of the Ghana Civil Society Organizations Platform on SDGs.

He contributes to policy advocacy, civic space protection, and reforms, including his role on the Advocacy Technical Committee for Ghana’s draft Non-Profit Organization (NPO) Bill.

A respected thought leader and international speaker, Dr. Wemakor has represented Ghana at major continental and global forums, including:

. United Nations High-Level Political Forum.

. Pan-African Human Rights and Social Justice Conference.

. International Seminar on Enhancing Human Rights Activities in North Korea (Accra, 2025).

. Pan-African Conference on National Security and Human Rights (Nairobi, 2025).

. Launch of Ghana’s Civic Space Outlook Documentary (2024) South Korea COVID-19 Human Rights Forums.

. High-Level Africa Civil Society AML/CFT Conference (Gaborone, Botswana, 2025).

He has also served as Special Guest of Honor and Speaker at the Farmers Care Program in Yilo Krobo, Somanya (2025) and as Panel Speaker at the 3rd West Africa Civil Society Week (WACS Week 2025), contributing to discussions on peace, security, and justice imperatives.

Dr. Wemakor’s work has earned national, continental, and international recognition, including:

. Prestigious 5th UN Global Entreps Award (only Ghanaian awardee in West Africa)

. Africa Peace Advocate Award (2023)

. Finalist, African Human Rights Defenders Shield Awards (2023).

. Africans Rising Activism Award (Movement of the Year, 2020 – Fourth Place).

. Honorary Award for Peace, Security & Education of the Year – Africa Early Childhood Education Awards (AECEA 2021).

. GIJ 60th Anniversary Media Contest Winner for exceptional SDG reporting.

. Winner, 2018 National Media Competition on Migration Reporting.

. Most Influential Student Media Personnel of the Year (2016) – Ghana Institute of Journalism.

. Featured in Business Woman Club Magazine (Ukraine, 2020) for contributions to women’s rights during Covid-19.

. Contributed to the World Bank EQOSOGI Report on equality of opportunity for sexual and gender minorities and received recognition from the World Bank.

Conferred on Doctorate in Executive Leadership in Humanity (Honorary), by International Kingdom University, Margate, Florida, USA.

. Global Doctoral Humanitarian and Ministerial Excellence Award recipient.

. Graduate of the Ghana Institute of Journalism, Fellow of the Fortifying the Truth Cohort (WITNESS), and alumnus of the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa Financial Journalism Program.

Through his unwavering commitment to human rights, child protection, gender justice, and inclusive development, Dr. Joseph Wemakor remains a powerful voice for women, children, youth, farmers, rural communities, and marginalized populations, championing dignity, equity, and opportunity for all.