Published 5 hours ago
Oluwatomisin Amokeoja
, Journalist
The return of African cultural artifacts has gained momentum in recent years as governments and museums across Europe face increasing calls to address the legacy of colonial-era looting and cultural appropriation
Ghana recently said the Netherlands and Germany have agreed to return about 2,000 looted artifacts and culturally significant items, marking one of the largest commitments yet to repatriate African cultural heritage as the West African nation steps up its campaign for reparatory justice
Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the announcement was made during the Next Steps Conference in Accra, where the Dutch and German ambassadors presented a catalog of the artifacts to President John Dramani Mahama
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“The Government of Ghana welcomes the commendable announcement from the Netherlands and Germany,” Ablakwa said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), adding in a subsequent post that the returned objects would become part of a planned museum dedicated to the history of the transatlantic slave trade and the preservation of Ghana’s cultural heritage
The announcement comes after Ghana hosted a high-level <a href="https://absafricatv.com/duma-gqubule-mass-deportations-in-south-africa-would-break-international-law/” title=”DUMA GQUBULE | Mass deportations in South Africa would break international law”>international conference to advance implementation of a landmark United Nations (U.N.) resolution recognizing the transatlantic trafficking and enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity
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According to Ghana’s foreign ministry, the conference brought together heads of state, ministers, international organizations, legal experts and civil society representatives to develop a roadmap for reparatory justice following the adoption of U.N. General Assembly Resolution A/RES/80/250
President Mahama described the resolution as a defining moment in acknowledging the lasting impact of slavery and said Ghana’s leadership on the issue was rooted in its history
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“Our objective is not to reopen old wounds but to heal those wounds,” Mahama said, according to the ministry, adding that reparatory justice should be guided by truth, reconciliation and constructive engagement
Mahama also announced plans to establish three international bodies: a Global Advisory Panel on Reparative Justice, an Expert Panel on the Restitution of Cultural Artefacts, and a Global Legal Panel on Reparative Justice to explore legal pathways for reparations
“The job creation potential and overall tourism benefits will be enormous,” Ablakwa said about the planned museum
The announcement has been welcomed by cultural leaders and artists, who describe the returns as an important milestone in restoring African history
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Julz Ossom, Executive Director of Canada-based not-for-profit collective of art, media and business professionals AIM 2 IMPACT, tells FORBES AFRICA the repatriation is “about restoring ownership of our story,” adding that the artifacts could strengthen education, tourism, cultural diplomacy and economic development
Ghanaian culture and tourism strategist Ivy Prosper shares with FORBES AFRICA that it is encouraging to see European governments acknowledge that cultural objects housed in foreign museums belonged to the communities from which they were taken
Ghanaian artist educator and visual artist Kofi Frempong calls the move “a small but significant step toward restorative justice” but says to FORBES AFRICA that sustained collaboration and respect between African and foreign nations would determine whether it represents lasting change
Gabriel Odartei, Executive Director of Canada-based video and animation production company MAKU Productions, tells FORBES AFRICA the decision acknowledges historical injustice and could help build more honest cultural relations between Africa and Europe while preserving African history through African voices
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Related Topics:#Africa, #Featured, #News Letter, #newsletter, #Nigeria, #South Africa.
