Mahama urges global institutions to invest in Africa’s cultural infrastructure

President John Dramani Mahama has urged global institutions to invest in Africa's cultural infrastructure. He made this call during a High-Level Side Event on the Next Steps at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. Mahama emphasized the need for more investment to enhance Africa's capacity for preserving, researching and showcasing its cultural heritage. This comes as there is a growing push for the return of African artifacts held in foreign collections.

Speaking at the event, Mahama treated cultural heritage as a critical aspect of Africa's development. He directly appealed to multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, global foundations, and private sector partners to deliberately invest in Africa's cultural infrastructure. He specifically encouraged financing for regional archives, conservation laboratories, digitization initiatives, and professional training for a new generation of African curators and historians.

According to Mahama, such investment would enable African nations to effectively receive, preserve, and manage returned artifacts and other heritage materials. His appeal is part of Ghana's broader reparatory justice agenda. This agenda aims to go beyond acknowledging historical injustices towards implementing practical measures, including the restitution of African cultural property.