UK Returns Looted Ghana Artefacts to Asante Gold after 150 Years

The UK has returned a collection of looted artefacts to Ghana, more than 150 years after they were taken. The items, which include 32 gold and silver pieces, were stolen from the court of the Asante king during conflicts between the British and the Asante people in the 19th century. They have been sent on a long-term loan to Ghana by the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) and the British Museum.

The artefacts are currently in Ghana and are expected to be formally received by the current Asante king, known as the Asantehene, on Friday. They will be displayed at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi as part of celebrations marking the silver jubilee of the king.

The return of these artefacts is seen as an important cultural collaboration between the UK and Ghana. Some national museums in the UK are prohibited by law from permanently returning contested items in their collections, so loan deals like this allow the objects to return to their countries of origin.

The return of these artefacts comes at a time when there is ongoing debate over what to do with other items exported from their native lands, such as the Benin Bronzes and the Elgin Marbles. Some countries fear that loans may be used to imply they accept the UK’s ownership, while others see these agreements as a way for Britain to confront its colonial past and build better relationships for the future.