President John Dramani Mahama has called for a united African front in demanding the return of cultural objects unjustly held outside the continent.

He stressed that restitution must go beyond relocation to museums.

“We must speak with one voice until every African object that’s unjustly held abroad is returned, not merely to a location but to a people, returned to a living culture, returned to its rightful spiritual and historical origin,” President Mahama stated.

The President, who serves as the African Union (AU) Champion for Reparations, made the remarks at a side event during the 39th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

He emphasised that the ongoing restitution debate is not simply about the physical transfer of artefacts, but about addressing historical injustice, restoring cultural identity, and healing the spiritual disruption caused by colonial-era expropriation.

According to President Mahama, the return of looted African heritage must reconnect communities to their roots and restore the cultural continuity that was broken during the colonial period.

He argued that artefacts taken from Africa carry deep spiritual and historical significance and should not remain detached from the societies that created them.