President John Dramani Mahama has called for a robust, permanent framework to govern the global reparative justice campaign, warning that the return of stolen African heritage cannot be left to individual acts of charity.
Addressing a high-level side event at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, he outlined three critical pillars designed to translate international recognition of historical wrongs into concrete restitution. His declaration follows the landmark United Nations resolution acknowledging the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity.
Emphasising the need to shift from temporary gestures to enforceable international standards, Mahama insisted that European nations holding looted cultural assets must face clear, standardized mechanisms for their return.
“Today, on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly, I present to you the three pillars of our NEXT STEPS to transform this vision into global reality,” he stated.
Setting out his vision, the former president argued that while recent efforts by some European governments are welcome, they remain far too fragmented to deliver true reparative justice.
He pointed to positive steps such as the Netherlands cataloguing 2,000 Ghanaian artefacts for return, Germany’s engagement with the Kpando traditional area, France’s new legislative frameworks, and the return of the Djidji Ayokwe talking drum to Côte d’Ivoire.
However, Mahama stressed that the global community must go much further than sporadic handovers.
“But moral justice cannot rely on piecemeal generosity or isolated acts of goodwill. Our NEXT STEP is to build a permanent, institutionalised global system,” President Mahama said.
He urged the UN and western custodians to immediately establish “clear, standardised legal and diplomatic mechanisms” aimed at easing provenance research, opening archival access, and dismantling legal hurdles to full restitution—starting with the immediate, unconditional repatriation of human remains.
Tackling one of the most common justifications used to delay restitution, Mahama forcefully dismissed arguments that African institutions lack the modern facilities required to preserve returned heritage.
“Let us reject this narrative. Capacity constraints must never be used as a justification for continued possession. Capacity must serve as a bridge to return, not a barrier to justice,” he said.
Highlighting ongoing investments across the continent, he cited key initiatives including the African Union’s Agenda 2063 flagship project to build the Great African Museum, the AU-EU Museum Partnership, and Ghana’s own construction of modern national and traditional facilities.
Rather than using technical limitations as a reason to retain African artefacts, Mahama urged western nations to help build local infrastructure where gaps remain.
“Where gaps in technology, digitisation, or conservation exist, the solution is simple: Invest in them through genuine multilateral partnership,” he said.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana