29th September,2025 -Barcelona, Spain— Ghana’s Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, delivered a stirring appeal for the restitution of looted African cultural artifacts at the MONDIACULT 2025 conference, drawing a standing ovation from delegates around the world.
Speaking at the UNESCO-led global cultural policy forum, Hon. Gomashie called the return of stolen artifacts a matter of justice, identity, and reconciliation, not hostility. “These are not merely pieces of art or historical curiosities,” she declared. “They are a part of our soul.”
Her emotional address spotlighted the psychological and cultural toll of colonial-era looting, stressing that restitution is vital for restoring the dignity, heritage, and collective memory of affected communities.
“For us, restitution is not just about objects. It is about healing. It is about reconnecting generations to their history and heritage,” she reiterated.
The conference hall, filled with ministers, diplomats, cultural leaders, and museum directors, fell silent as she recounted how the absence of key cultural objects continues to create a void in Ghana’s national narrative. She emphasized that Ghana’s efforts to retrieve these items are already inspiring patriotism and cultural pride among the nation’s youth.
“By bringing our artifacts home,” she noted, “we are empowering our youth to connect with their heritage and to find inspiration in the greatness of their ancestors.”
The Minister also underscored that Ghana’s advocacy is rooted in hope and justice, not retribution. and urged institutions in the Global North to abandon colonial-era justifications and embrace ethical, transparent pathways to restitution.
“We must move beyond mere discussions and commit to concrete actions,” she said, calling for sustainable frameworks and collaborative global engagement to right historical wrongs.
Hon. Gomashie’s remarks positioned Ghana once again at the forefront of the global restitution movement, with the West African nation championing the return of looted heritage as both a moral imperative and a developmental necessity.
She was accompanied by senior government officials, including Mr. Divine Kwame Owusu-Ansah, Director of Culture and Creative Arts; Dr. O.T. Damba, Acting Secretary-General of the Ghana National Commission for UNESCO; and Mrs. Cynthia Atuquaye from Ghana’s Mission in Madrid.
Convened by UNESCO, MONDIACULT 2025 is the world’s largest conference on cultural policy, drawing record participation this year. The issue of restitution has taken centre stage, as African, Asian, and Indigenous leaders continue to push for the return of cultural property seized during colonial rule.
Source: Delassie Mabel Awuku-PR Unit -MoTCCA
