British museum 'returns' stolen crown jewels to Ghana

Under a long-term loan agreement, two British museums are returning gold and silver objects to Ghana, 150 years after the treasures were taken from the Asante people during the British colonial conflicts in West Africa. NBC reported.

The Manhyia Palace Museum in Ghana, the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London announced a “major cultural partnership” on Thursday.

This cooperation circumvents UK rules that prohibit returning cultural property to its countries of origin.

These laws have been used to prevent the British Museum from returning the Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, to Greece.

The loan deal involves around 17 artefacts in total, including 13 pieces of Asante royal insignia which the V&A bought at auction in 1874. After their looting by British forces during the Anglo-Asante wars of 1873–74 and 1895–96, the artifacts were acquired by museums.

The institutions issued a statement stating: “These objects have cultural, historical and spiritual significance for the Asante people; they are also inextricably linked to the history of British colonization in West Africa; many were taken during the Anglo-Asante wars from 19th Century Kumasi.”

Only a small proportion of the Asante objects held by British museums and private collectors around the world are represented by the objects covered by the loan agreement.

There are reportedly 239 pieces of Asante insignia in the British Museum's collection alone.

Regarding British rules prohibiting the repatriation of cultural objects, Nana Oforiatta Ayim, special assistant to Ghana's Minister of Culture, described the agreement as a “starting point.”

However, she told the bbc that, in the end, the badges should be returned to their original owners.

“I'll give you an example. How would you feel if someone broke into your house, stole things and stored them there, and a few years later said, 'You know what? I'll give you your stuff back?' ” she asked.