Mahama calls for Great African Museum to anchor continent’s heritage revival

President John Dramani Mahama has emphasized the African Union's proposed Great African Museum as a crucial step towards bolstering the continent's ability to safeguard and exhibit its cultural heritage. Mahama stated that Africa is currently establishing institutions well-positioned to take a leading role in the care and interpretation of cultural artifacts that have been repatriated from overseas.

The President highlighted that the Great African Museum, in conjunction with the AU-EU Museum Partnership, offers a chance to enhance collaboration in conservation, research, and cultural education. Mahama cautioned against using Africa's infrastructure deficiencies as a rationale for keeping cultural assets outside the continent.

"Capacity must function as a pathway to restitution, not as an impediment to justice," he asserted during a high-level side event at the United Nations General Assembly, urging international partners to invest in African cultural institutions and to provide assistance in areas such as digitization, conservation techniques, and professional training.