Manhyia Palace is exhibiting looted artifacts from the Asante Kingdom that were taken by British colonizers for public viewing.
Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II expressed that the return of the artifacts to the Asante Kingdom represents the restoration of the shared spirit of the African continent, encouraging the public to visit the Manhyia Palace Museum to see the collection.
The artifacts were taken from the Asante Kingdom by the British 150 years ago and have been returned under a three-year loan agreement, which may be renewed.
The agreement involves the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum, and the Asante Kingdom.
The returned 32 artifacts include the state sword, a gold peace pipe, and various silver and gold ornaments.
In an address at the display ceremony, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II thanked the British Museum for returning the items.
“The exhibition that we are witnessing today has been through negotiations from my predecessors, where Prempeh I, when he returned, requested for these artefacts to be brought back. My uncle Prempeh II also brought up that idea in 1948 and my brother Opoku Ware also came up with this idea again and then I come here standing in front of you to negotiate.
“When I travelled in May [2023], I brought the matter up again with the British Museum and through that, here we are with all these items being returned and the agreement is for us to keep it for three years and renew it for another three years” Otumfuo said.
