Accra, Ghana – Ghana is playing host to a pivotal regional workshop aimed at advancing the restitution of African cultural property looted during the colonial era. Organised by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the workshop opened on Monday at the Coconut Grove Hotel in Accra, drawing dignitaries, cultural heritage experts, and officials from across West Africa.
In her opening address, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and Member of Parliament for the Ketu South Constituency, welcomed delegates on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama. She described the gathering as “a call for a long-overdue reckoning,” highlighting the deep historical wounds caused by the loss of Africa’s cultural patrimony.
“We are gathered to find strategies to confront the pains of our past and to ensure that our collective future is built on justice, restoration, and the dignity we have long been denied,” she said.
The workshop is part of the broader ECOWAS Action Plan (2019–2023), which was adopted by regional leaders to guide the return of looted artefacts, the development of legal frameworks, and increased cooperation among stakeholders in cultural heritage preservation.
Minister Gomashie stressed the symbolic and historical importance of the items taken from the continent, including royal regalia, sacred artefacts, and ancestral symbols, which now reside in museums and private collections abroad. “These are not just objects; they are vessels of memory,” she said.
Also addressing participants was Dr. Roland Kouakou, Acting Director of Education, Science and Culture at ECOWAS. He commended Ghana’s commitment to cultural restitution and underlined the importance of collective regional action.
“We are linked to our history, and we need to come together to assess progress, distribute tasks, and adopt a collective roadmap,” Dr. Kouakou noted, while urging the mobilisation of youth and the promotion of African unity.
The workshop convened a diverse group of stakeholders including:
- Dr. Emile Zida, Head of the Culture Division, ECOWAS
- Members of the ECOWAS Regional Advocacy Committee for the Return of Cultural Property
- Directors from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Ghana
- Heads of agencies under the Ministry
- Representatives from ECOWAS Member States
- Cultural heritage experts and advocates
Over the coming days, participants will engage in technical discussions and collaborative planning to accelerate restitution processes, strengthen institutional frameworks, and ensure that the cultural heritage of ECOWAS Member States is preserved and returned to its rightful custodians.
The event underscores Ghana’s role as a regional leader in cultural advocacy and affirms West Africa’s unified stance on reclaiming the artefacts that embody its history, identity, and resilience.
Source: Public Relations Unit, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts
