President John Dramani Mahama has declared that the story of Africa’s cultural heritage should not end with the removal of its treasures but continue through their return to the continent.

Delivering a keynote address at a high-level side event on cultural restitution during the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, President Mahama said Ghana was seeking to transform international recognition of historical injustices into concrete action.

He said Ghana was not approaching the issue simply to assign blame for events of the past but to build partnerships capable of repairing their consequences.

“Ghana does not come to this hall to assign guilt for the past. We come to forge a partnership with the present to repair the future,” he said.

President Mahama said the international community must establish mechanisms for the return of cultural property, invest in Africa’s cultural infrastructure and ensure the immediate return of human remains.

He said the ultimate objective was to create a future in which African children could access and learn from the heritage of their ancestors.

“The story of Africa’s cultural heritage cannot end with its removal. It must continue with its return,” President Mahama said.