The ruler of Ghana’s Asante people has called out the British Museum asking them to return gold items in its collection to his country.
Africa Today News, New York can confirm that the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, recently met the museum’s director Dr. Hartwig Fischer for discussions.
The museum’s collection includes works taken from the Asante palace in Kumasi during the war with the British of 1874.
The British Museum informed reporters on Tuesday that it is currently ‘exploring the possibility of lending items’ to Ghana.
The Ghanaian ruler met Dr Fischer last week, after attending the Coronation of King Charles.
The British Museum has been under increasing pressure in recent years to return items in its collection to their countries of origin.
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The demands by Greece for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures, often still known as the Elgin Marbles, are the most high-profile example in this contested debate.
They were removed by the diplomat and soldier Lord Elgin in the 19th Century and later bought by the British government and placed in the British Museum.
Restitution issues more commonly apply to countries that experienced colonial conflict.
Ethiopia wants the British Museum to return ceremonial crosses, weapons, jewellry, sacred altar tablets, and other items taken from Maqdala in the north of the country during British military action in 1868.
Africa Today News, New York understands that the Nigerian government has also formally asked the museum to return 900 Benin Bronzes.
It is believed that thousands of artifacts stolen from
These beautiful bronze and brass sculptures were created by specialist guilds working for the royal court of the Oba, or King, in Benin City from the 16th Century onwards.