ACCRA
Ghana has welcomed announcements by the Netherlands and Germany that they are prepared to advance the return of cultural artifacts linked to the country’s history, including about 2,000 objects identified in Dutch collections, in what officials describe as a significant step in efforts to address the legacies of slavery and colonialism.
The commitments were made during the High-Level Consultative Conference on the Next Steps to the Landmark U.N. Resolution on the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans, held in Accra from June 17 to June 19.
The gathering brought together African and Caribbean leaders, legal experts, government officials, and members of the African diaspora to discuss the implementation of U.N. General Assembly Resolution A/RES/80/250, adopted in March.
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the government welcomed the Netherlands’ and Germany’s readiness to return looted artifacts and other items of cultural significance.
Ambassadors from both countries presented catalogs of objects under consideration for restitution to President John Dramani Mahama during a plenary session of the conference.
Ablakwa also highlighted an apology from Denmark for its role in the transatlantic slave trade and a pledge to help preserve historic castles linked to that era.
He described the developments as evidence of a growing commitment among some European partners to support restitution, historical accountability and truth-telling.
Dutch Ambassador Jeroen Verheul said discussions were underway with Ghanaian authorities on the return of cultural heritage.
He presented a catalog containing approximately 2,000 objects from Dutch national ethnographic collections that may be linked to Ghana.
“The exact provenance of these objects is not yet fully known, but this catalog is a starting point for continuing this return process together,” Verheul said.
He said cooperation between Ghana and the Netherlands would be essential as research continues and decisions are made on future returns.
German Ambassador to Ghana Frederik Landshoeft said Berlin remains committed to confronting the legacy of its colonial past through dialogue with affected countries and communities.
He presented a catalog documenting provenance research into four objects from Pando in Ghana’s Volta Region, including two war drums and two war horns associated with the Dagadu rulers.
“They carry history, memory and authority,” Landshoeft said of the objects.
The research found that the items entered German possession during the colonial period in circumstances shaped by unequal power relations and colonial violence.
Understanding those histories matters, he said, because cultural artifacts are closely tied to the communities from which they originate.
The conference concluded with a declaration calling on countries involved in the Atlantic slave trade to offer full, formal and unconditional apologies as a foundation for reconciliation, trust-building and reparatory justice.
The gathering attracted leaders and representatives from more than 80 countries, including the presidents of Senegal, Namibia, Liberia and São Tomé and Príncipe.
Participants argued that recognition of the transatlantic slave trade as one of humanity’s gravest crimes should be accompanied by practical measures to address its lasting social, economic and cultural consequences.
The momentum behind restitution efforts extends beyond Ghana.
Nigeria secured the return of more than 1,100 Benin Bronzes from German state museums in 2022 and, after years of negotiations, received additional artifacts from London’s Horniman Museum in 2023.
Ethiopia this week formally received relics belonging to Emperor Tewodros II that were taken to Britain following the 1868 Maqdala campaign.
In Côte d’Ivoire, the sacred talking drum known as the Djidji Ayokwé returned from France in March, marking the first official restitution of a cultural artifact from France to the West African nation in more than a century.
Senegal, Mali and South Africa have also pursued repatriation claims in recent years, while the African Union has formally backed member states seeking the recovery of cultural heritage held abroad.
The announcements have generated discussion in Ghana about how returned artifacts should be preserved and displayed.
Prince Kojo Hilton, a Ghanaian visual artist and founder of Global Art Connect, welcomed the development and called for renewed efforts to complete Ghana’s National Museum project.
“We also must make it an effort to complete the National Museum building to be able to accommodate and exhibit these artifacts,” Hilton wrote in response to Ablakwa’s announcement.
The developments have also renewed broader conversations about how societies should remember the legacy of slavery and colonialism.
While supporters view restitution and preservation efforts as important tools for historical education and accountability, others argue that resources should be directed toward contemporary priorities such as education and public services.
Jacqueline Sutherland, commenting on social media following Ablakwa’s announcement, questioned the emphasis on preserving slave-era castles and related sites. “Why do you all want to preserve these castles? How does it help heal the years of pain and continued oppression of the people?” she wrote. “The money should be put to education and sanitation.”
The return of artifacts is increasingly viewed as part of a broader effort to acknowledge historical injustices and reshape relations between African countries and former colonial powers through dialogue, accountability and cultural cooperation.
