In historic handover, US museum returns looted artifacts to Ghana

ACCRA, Ghana

The Fowler Museum in Los Angeles, California has returned seven royal artifacts to Ghana's Ashanti king, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, in a ceremony that marks a significant step towards the repatriation of cultural treasures looted during colonial times.

The Thursday handover coincided with the king's silver jubilee, making it a doubly momentous occasion for the Ashanti people of the West African nation.

The returned artifacts include a black gold necklace, a royal gold crown, and a stool, which were looted by British troops during the Sagrenti War in 1874 and eventually found their way to the museum on the campus of the University of California.

The return of these items represents a small but meaningful step towards correcting the historical injustices inflicted on indigenous cultures by colonial powers.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II expressed his gratitude for the return of the artifacts, acknowledging the significance of the gesture for the Ashanti people.

"What just happened confirms what occurred so many years ago when the British attacked us and looted our treasures," Otumfuo Osei Tutu II said at the ceremony.

"Let’s remain united to bring about peace and development in the kingdom," he added, stressing the importance of unity in the face of historical adversity.

The return of the artifacts is part of a broader effort to repatriate looted treasures, with a second batch of 32 items set to arrive from leading cultural institutions in the United Kingdom, including the British Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum, in April.