Mahama calls for investment in Africa’s cultural infrastructure

President John Dramani Mahama has called on international financial institutions, development banks, foundations and private-sector companies to boost investment in Africa's cultural infrastructure. He stressed that safeguarding and restoring cultural heritage should not be considered a secondary concern, coming after a country has reached economic success.

"Heritage is an engine of development," Mahama stated during a significant event in New York on September 24, discussing the return and restitution of cultural properties and heritage. He emphasized that well-maintained cultural assets can aid education, bolster national identity, draw international tourism, and boost the creative economy.

Mahama urged for financial support to be allocated to regional archives, conservation labs, digitization projects, and training for African curators and historians. He argued that such investments would enhance Africa's ability to receive and preserve returned artifacts, while also generating opportunities for young people and increasing the economic value of the continent's cultural heritage.