President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana has called for a decisive shift from acknowledging the loss of Africa's cultural heritage to taking concrete steps to secure its return to the continent. He made this appeal at a high-level side event on the return and restitution of cultural property and heritage on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. The event was co-hosted by Ghana, France, and Germany.
President Mahama emphasized that Africa's cultural treasures should be regarded as more than museum objects, describing them as living links to Africa's history, identity, and dignity. He outlined Ghana's "Next Steps" agenda, which seeks to institutionalize restitution, strengthen Africa's capacity to receive and preserve returning heritage, and promote cultural heritage as a contributor to education, tourism, national identity, and the creative economy.
The high-level side event focused on strengthening international cooperation on the restitution of African cultural property and establishing more permanent mechanisms to facilitate the return of heritage held outside the continent. President Mahama called for clear and standardized legal and diplomatic mechanisms to support provenance research, improve access to archives, and reduce legal barriers that can delay restitution.
President Mahama identified the unconditional return of human remains as an immediate priority in the broader restitution process. He stressed that the international community should move beyond isolated acts of goodwill and establish a permanent system capable of addressing restitution in a consistent manner. This, he believes, will ensure that the story of Africa's cultural heritage does not end with its removal, but continues with its return.
The New York meeting forms part of Ghana's broader reparatory justice agenda, following the Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice held in Accra in June 2026. This conference was a significant step towards advancing Ghana's efforts to secure the return of its cultural heritage. The meeting also underscored the importance of international cooperation in addressing the complex issues surrounding restitution.
Ghana has established international mechanisms, including a Global Experts Panel on the Restitution of Cultural Heritage and a Global Legal Panel on Reparatory Justice, to support the next phase of the initiative. These panels will provide critical expertise and guidance as Ghana and other African countries push for the return of their cultural treasures.
President Mahama's call for the return of Africa's cultural heritage has significant implications for the continent's cultural and economic development. By securing the return of these treasures, African countries can promote cultural heritage as a contributor to education, tourism, and national identity, ultimately enhancing their economic prospects and global standing.
Key points
- President Mahama calls for clear and standardized legal and diplomatic mechanisms to support provenance research and improve access to archives.
- Ghana's "Next Steps" agenda seeks to institutionalize restitution, strengthen Africa's capacity to receive and preserve returning heritage, and promote cultural heritage.
- The unconditional return of human remains is identified as an immediate priority in the broader restitution process.
