{
  "id": 9404450,
  "title": "Mahama calls for global framework to drive reparations for historical injustices",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/mahama-calls-for-global-framework-to-drive-reparations-for-historical",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T19:34:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/mahama-calls-for-global-framework-to-drive-reparations-for-historical-injustices/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President John Dramani Mahama has advocated for concrete steps to advance the global reparatory justice agenda, presenting three proposals that Ghana believes should lead the transition from acknowledging historical injustices to implementing remedies. Addressing the high-level side event on reparatory justice at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Mahama emphasized the need to shift focus from recognizing past wrongs to taking action. He stressed the importance of moving from commitments to implementation, stating, \"We must move from acknowledgement to action, from commitments to implementation.\"\n\nMahama identified the creation of a permanent and institutionalized global system for restitution as the first priority. He urged the United Nations and countries possessing African cultural property to establish clear and standardized legal and diplomatic procedures to facilitate provenance research, enhance access to historical archives, and overcome legal barriers hindering restitution. Additionally, he called for the unconditional return of human remains to Africa, emphasizing that this should be an immediate priority.\n\nThe second proposal focuses on strengthening Africa's capacity to receive, preserve, and manage cultural artefacts returned to the continent. Mahama rejected the notion that restitution should be delayed until African countries have sufficient facilities for preserving returned items. He argued that capacity constraints should not serve as an excuse for maintaining possession. Instead, capacity should act as a bridge to return, not a barrier to justice. He noted ongoing initiatives to develop the necessary infrastructure, such as the African Union's Great African Museum and the AU-EU Museum Partnership.\n\nThe third pillar aims to make cultural heritage a catalyst for economic and social development. Mahama appealed to multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, foundations, and private-sector organizations to support investments in Africa's cultural infrastructure. These investments should include regional archives, conservation laboratories, digitization initiatives, and professional training programs. He argued that properly preserved and presented cultural heritage could significantly contribute to education, national identity, tourism, and the creative economy. These proposals follow the UN General Assembly's adoption of Resolution 80/250 on March 25, which Ghana views as a significant step in advancing the global reparatory justice agenda.",
  "summary": "President John Dramani Mahama has called for concrete measures to advance the global reparatory justice agenda, outlining three proposals Ghana says should guide the transition from recognising historical injustices to implementing remedies. He made the call at a high-level side event on the next steps for reparatory justice held on the sidelines of the 81st […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}