New identity reinforces the awards’ independent global vision while preserving their mission to honour exceptional leadership, human rights, democracy, and global impact.
Accra, Ghana– August 3, 2026 — Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), – Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) has officially announced the rebranding of its flagship international awards programme.
Effective immediately, the HRRG Global RightsCon Awards will be known as the HRRG Global RightsShield Awards.
The rebranding represents a significant milestone in the evolution of the awards programme and reflects HRRG’s commitment to strengthening its independent global identity while positioning the initiative for long-term international growth, recognition, and impact.
The new name embodies HRRG’s mission to protect, promote, and advance human rights, democratic values, justice, accountability, civic freedoms, and sustainable development.
It also reflects the organization’s vision of building a globally respected platform that honours individuals, institutions, governments, civil society organizations, diplomats, academics, journalists, innovators, philanthropists, development practitioners, and changemakers whose work has made outstanding contributions to humanity.
Founded by Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), the awards programme remains an entirely independent initiative conceived, owned, organized, and administered by the organization.
The awards operate under HRRG’s governance and selection processes and are guided by the principles of integrity, transparency, professionalism, impartiality, credibility, and excellence.
Building on a Successful Inaugural Edition
The inaugural edition marked an important milestone in HRRG’s efforts to establish an international platform for recognizing exceptional leadership and public service.
The awards celebrated distinguished heads of state, public officials, diplomats, human rights defenders, civil society leaders, institutions, and other changemakers whose contributions have strengthened democratic governance, advanced human rights, promoted diplomacy, encouraged innovation, supported sustainable development, and improved lives across Africa and beyond.
HRRG emphasized that the rebranding does not affect the status, validity, or recognition of any honours presented during the inaugural edition. All awards previously conferred remain fully valid, and every inaugural recipient continues to form an important part of the programme’s growing legacy.
Strengthening an Independent Global Brand
According to HRRG, the introduction of the HRRG Global RightsShield Awards represents more than a change of name. It establishes a distinct global identity that reflects the programme’s independence while creating a stronger foundation for future international partnerships and growth.
As the awards continue to evolve, HRRG looks forward to collaborating with governments, multilateral institutions, diplomatic missions, development partners, academic institutions, civil society organizations, philanthropic foundations, media organizations, international agencies, and private sector institutions that share a commitment to promoting human rights, democratic governance, justice, innovation, peace, and sustainable development.
The organization reaffirmed that such collaborations would enhance the global reach and impact of the awards while preserving Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) as the programme’s sole founder, owner, and organizer.
Executive Director’s Statement
Speaking on the rebranding, the Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, described the new identity as a defining moment in the programme’s development.
“The HRRG Global RightsShield Awards represent far more than a change of name. They reflect our long-term vision of building a credible, independent, and internationally respected platform that celebrates individuals and institutions whose leadership, integrity, innovation, and service continue to advance human rights, democracy, justice, peace, and sustainable development.
We remain committed to recognizing visionary leaders and changemakers whose work inspires hope, strengthens democratic societies, and creates lasting positive impact across Africa and the world.
Our ambition is to build an awards programme that not only celebrates excellence but also encourages future generations to champion human dignity, accountability, and inclusive development.”
Looking Ahead
HRRG envisions the HRRG Global RightsShield Awards becoming one of the world’s leading platforms for recognizing outstanding leadership and service across governance, diplomacy, civil society, academia, journalism, innovation, philanthropy, and sustainable development.
The organization remains committed to expanding the awards’ international reach while maintaining the highest standards of independence, fairness, transparency, professionalism, and credibility.
HRRG also expressed appreciation to all inaugural honourees, supporters, partners, media organizations, and stakeholders whose encouragement and confidence have contributed to the successful establishment of the initiative.
About Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG)
Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG) is a leading human rights and media-focused civil society organisation committed to advancing human dignity, democratic accountability, social justice, civic participation, and sustainable development in Ghana, across Africa, and globally.
Through advocacy, investigative journalism, research, capacity building, access to justice, and strategic partnerships, HRRG empowers vulnerable communities and contributes to strengthening democratic governance and inclusive development.
Notable Achievements & Recognitions
HRRG’s work has earned national and international recognition, reflecting its commitment to excellence, advocacy, and transformative impact, including:
. Prestigious 5th UN Global Entreps Award– Best International Practice on Sustainability (Nationwide KTT Project), reaching over 60,000 beneficiaries.
. Africa Peace Advocate Award (2023).
. African Human Rights Defenders Shield Awards (2023 Finalist).
. Africans Rising Activism Award– Movement of the Year (2020, 4th Place).
. Honorary Award for Peace, Security & Education– Africa Early Childhood Education Awards (2021).
. Listed among Ghana’s 100 Most Impactful Changemakers (2024).
. Featured in Businesswoman Club International Magazine (Ukraine, 2020) for contributions to women’s rights during the COVID-19 pandemic.
. Recognized by the World Bank for expert contributions to the Second Edition of the Equality of Opportunity for Sexual and Gender Minorities (EQOSOGI) Report.
HRRGalso convenes and supports more than 500 civil society organisations through the Youth Sub-Platform of the Ghana Civil Society Organizations Platform on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has represented Ghana at major regional and international platforms, including the International Seminar on Enhancing Human Rights Activities in North Korea, the United Nations High-Level Political Forum, and the Pan-African Human Rights and Social Justice Conference.
Editorial Note
The awards programme was launched under its original name during its inaugural edition and has now been officially rebranded as the HRRG Global RightsShield Awards as part of Human Rights Reporters Ghana’s long-term branding strategy to strengthen the programme’s independent global identity.
This branding update does not affect the status, validity, or recognition of any inaugural honouree.
All honours previously conferred remain fully valid and continue to reflect HRRG’s enduring commitment to recognizing exceptional leadership and outstanding contributions to humanity.
