President John Dramani Mahama has called for a decisive global shift from acknowledging the loss of Africa’s cultural heritage to taking concrete action to secure its return

Co-hosted by Ghana, France and Germany, the event brought renewed focus to the need for permanent, institutionalised mechanisms for restitution, greater investment in Africa’s cultural infrastructure, and the unconditional return of human remains.

President Mahama outlined Ghana’s “Next Steps” agenda, anchored on institutionalising restitution, strengthening Africa’s capacity to preserve returning heritage, and recognising cultural heritage as an engine for education, tourism, identity and creative-sector development. “The story of Africa’s cultural heritage cannot end with its removal. It must continue with its return.”