UK to Loan Back Ghana’s Looted ‘Crown Jewels’

The United Kingdom (UK) has announced plans to loan back some of Ghana’s looted treasures, known as the country’s “crown jewels.”

In a significant move towards cultural cooperation and historical reconciliation, the United Kingdom (UK) has announced plans to loan back some of Ghana’s looted treasures, known as the country’s “crown jewels.” The items, which were looted by British forces from the court of the Asante king 150 years ago, will be returned under long-term loan agreements.

The loan deals, revealed by the BBC, involve 32 items in total, with 17 pieces being lent by the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) and 15 by the British Museum. Notable artifacts include a gold peace pipe, a sword of state, and gold badges worn by officials responsible for cleansing the soul of the king.

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While some countries have expressed concerns that loans may be used to imply acceptance of the UK’s ownership, this move is seen as a way to allow objects to return to their countries of origin. Under current UK laws, some national museums, including the V&A and the British Museum, are prohibited from permanently giving back contested items in their collections.

Tristram Hunt, director of the V&A, emphasized the importance of sharing these objects more fairly in the present day, stating that museums holding objects obtained through war and looting have a responsibility to consider partnerships and exchanges with countries of origin. However, he clarified that the loan agreements do not constitute restitution by returning permanent ownership to Ghana.

The three-year loan agreements, with an option to extend for another three years, were made not with the Ghanaian government but with Otumfo Osei Tutu II, the current Asante king.

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The artifacts will be displayed at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, the capital of the Asante region, to celebrate the Asantehene’s silver jubilee.

The Asante gold objects hold immense cultural and spiritual significance in Ghana, comparable to the Benin Bronzes looted by Britain from the Kingdom of Benin. Nana Oforiatta Ayim, special adviser to Ghana’s culture minister, expressed that the return of these objects is more than just a symbolic act; it represents a piece of the nation’s soul coming home and a step towards healing the wounds of the past.

While this loan agreement does not fully address the issue of looted artifacts, it is viewed as a positive starting point for dialogue and cooperation between the UK and Ghana.

SOURCE: BBC