The return of the ‘crown jewels’ of the Asante Kingdom, which were looted by the British during the colonial era, is now set to happen after Chief Negotiator Ivor Agyemang Duah confirmed that the artefacts cannot be permanently returned due to UK laws banning such actions.
Under the terms of a three-year agreement between the British Museum and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the gold artefacts will be loaned to the Ashanti Kingdom. The items being returned include a gold smoking pipe, a sword that belonged to the Ashanti state, and gold badges.
Mr. Duah explained that the Ashanti Kingdom had hoped for a permanent return of the items but was forced to accept the loan agreement as the best possible outcome.
“The national museums in particular in the UK cannot permanently return these objects. There is goodwill among workers and museum economists who feel that they should look at the laws again,” he said.
The artefacts will arrive between April and May after nine months of negotiations. The return marks a new sense of cultural cooperation between the UK and Ghana after generations of anger over the looting of these items from the court of the Asante king.
The Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) is lending 17 pieces and 15 are from the British Museum. This new agreement is a positive step towards restoring some of Ghana’s heritage back to its rightful place.
