Decades-long negotiations between Ghana and the UK have paved the way for the return of Asante regalia to the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi.
Dr. Ivor Agyemang-Duah, a key figure in the negotiations and advisor to Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, revealed the intricacies of the talks with the British Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum.
The collaborative effort between the Manhyia Palace Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the British Museum will result in the display of gold and silver regalia associated with the Asante royal court at the Palace Museum.
This marks a historic moment, as many of these regal artefacts have been unseen in Ghana for over 150 years.
Dr. Agyemang-Duah shed light on the prolonged nature of the negotiations, dating back over 50 years. He disclosed that discussions gained momentum during Asantehene Osei Tutu II’s visit to London in 2023.
The Asantehene, during official talks with museum directors, reopened negotiations and enlisted the assistance of Dr. Agyemang-Duah and British professor Malcolm McLeod to navigate the technical decisions.
Highlighting the significance of the year, Dr. Agyemang-Duah explained, “This year is critical in the sense that it must be the 150 years of the war, 100 years since the return of Agyemang Prempeh from exile in Seychelles, and 25 years of the current Asantehene Osei Tutu II on the stool.”
He emphasized that the artefacts would undergo scrutiny to identify those looted, with the acknowledgment that items from the Victoria & Albert Museum were stolen.
The historian addressed the legal constraints faced during negotiations, citing strict UK laws governing national museums, which prohibit the permanent return of looted objects.
Responding to questions about why stolen regalia would be loaned to the Manhyia Palace, Dr. Agyemang-Duah emphasized the importance of navigating the legal intricacies, stating, “The historical antecedents of that bring itself to the question you asked, the moral rights. But there is also the other side to deal with, the laws of antiquity in the UK.”