President John Dramani Mahama has called for a decisive global shift from acknowledging the loss of Africa’s cultural heritage to taking concrete steps to facilitate its return to the continent.
Speaking 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, President Mahama said Africa’s cultural treasures should be viewed as more than museum artefacts.
According to him, the objects are living connections to Africa’s history, identity and dignity, making their return an important part of addressing the continent’s cultural heritage losses.
The event, co-hosted by Ghana, France and Germany, focused on strengthening international efforts towards the restitution of African cultural property and heritage.
President Mahama used the occasion to advocate permanent and institutionalised mechanisms for restitution, increased investment in Africa’s capacity to preserve returned cultural assets, and the unconditional return of human remains.
He also outlined Ghana’s “Next Steps” agenda, which centres on institutionalising restitution and building the infrastructure and expertise required to properly preserve heritage returned to the continent.
The agenda further seeks to position cultural heritage as an important resource for education, tourism, national identity and the development of Africa’s creative industries.
President Mahama said the process of restitution should not end with the physical return of cultural objects but should contribute to strengthening Africa’s cultural institutions and expanding opportunities linked to its heritage.
“The story of Africa’s cultural heritage cannot end with its removal. It must continue with its return,” President Mahama said.
The discussions in New York renewed international attention on efforts to secure the return of cultural property removed from Africa and to establish sustainable frameworks for restitution and heritage preservation.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
