President Akufo-Addo has urged members of the Africa Heritage Restitution Movement (AHRM) to intensify their efforts in advocating reparations and the return of stolen cultural artefacts related to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the AHRM, organised by the Open Society Foundation (OSF) in Accra, President Akufo-Addo emphasised the importance of addressing both reparations and the restitution of cultural properties.
He stated that while reparations can never fully compensate for the historical harm caused by the slave trade, it is essential to revive discussions on this matter.
Drawing parallels with reparations for other historical injustices, he asserted that victims of the slave trade deserve similar recognition.
President Akufo-Addo expressed his complete support for the initiative, highlighting how the return of cultural artefacts would help Africans reconnect with their heritage, history, and skills.
He stressed that this reconnection would not only benefit Africans but also contribute to building new relationships with the international community.
Acknowledging the complexity of the issue, the President noted that his government had established a national focal team to research and advise on best practices for restitution and repatriation efforts.
He highlighted the need for collaboration between various stakeholders, including state institutions, non-state actors, and international counterparts, to ensure a smooth restitution process.
“The subject of restitutions must go along with the matter of reparations.
No amount of money can restore the damage caused by the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and its consequences, which have spanned many centuries”, he said, adding: “But nevertheless, it is now time to revive and intensify the discussion for reparations for Africans.”
He continued, “Indeed, the time is long overdue. If reparations can rightfully be paid to victims of the holocaust, so can reparation be paid to victims of the slave trade.
“The restitution, return, reparation and repatriation of African stolen and looted cultural properties under pre-colonial and colonial circumstances have to be issues of major concern to all Africans.
“These concerns have in recent times dominated public discourse on the continent. Governments, civil society groups, traditional authorities, scholars, and researchers have called for the return of African cultural properties that were illegally and shamelessly transported from the continent”.
The call for the return of African cultural artefacts gained momentum in recent years, with a renewed focus on objects taken from the continent during the colonial period.
The Open Society Foundations’ Global Initiative for the Restitution for African Cultural Heritage aims to facilitate advocacy and negotiations for the repatriation of these artifacts.
The three-day summit in Ghana brings together representatives from the African Union, ECOWAS, NGOs, UN agencies, artists, academia, and the African diaspora.
OSF, founded by George Soros, supports independent groups worldwide working for justice, democratic governance, and human rights, guided by principles of justice, equity, and expression.
Source: Classfmonline.com
