The Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts has formally inaugurated a focal team dedicated to the restitution and reparation of looted cultural artefacts, reaffirming its commitment to reclaiming historical identity and cultural pride.
At the ceremony, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie emphasized that the effort is not solely about retrieving “old things” but about restoring identity, history, and national dignity.
Addressing members, Hon. Gomashie stressed the role of youth in understanding their heritage. “The youth must understand that you cannot look forward without knowing where you are coming from,” she stated, affirming that the recovery of artefacts provides a bridge across generations, linking Ghana’s past with its present and future.
She underscored the broader significance of the initiative, calling it a “cultural and moral commitment”, bemoaning the long-standing absence of sacred and symbolic objects in Ghana, many of which remain in foreign institutions because of colonial exploitation.
Professor Kojo Gavua, a renowned archaeologist from the University of Ghana, highlighted the team’s groundwork through regional workshops and public engagement initiatives. These included gatherings in Cape Coast, Bolgatanga, Ho, and a major international workshop in Accra.
According to him, progress has been made with global partners, leading to the Durban Museum in South Africa offering to return two Asante artefacts—a traditional stool and a shrine figure. The Fowler Museum in the United States recently repatriated a gold item and has shown a willingness to return more.
The National Museum of the Netherlands has also submitted a catalogue of Ghanaian-origin items for consideration. He also announced that Ghana is participating in a German committee revising policies around cultural returns, particularly regarding looted artefacts from Kpando.
UNESCO representative Mr. Carl Ampah praised Ghana’s leadership in ratifying international conventions that prohibit illicit trade in cultural property. He noted that these legal frameworks now empower the country to formally request the return of its heritage.
The focal team led by Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Professor Kodzo Gavua, University of Ghana, Mr. Mohammed Seidu, Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Daphne Akonor, Attorney Generals Department, Mr. Richard Obeng Boafo, Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, Dr. Aba Mansa Eyifa-Dzidzienyo, University of Ghana, Mr. Edmond Moukala- UNESCO, Mr. Kwesi Essel Blankson, GMMB, Professor Wazi Apoh, University of Ghana and Mr. Divine Kwame Owusu Ansah, MoTCCA will lead national efforts to identify, document, and negotiate the return of sacred regalia and historic items seized during the colonial era.
Their work aims to support wider calls for reparative justice and address historical wounds left by the loss of cultural property. Drawing from international support—including ECOWAS, the African Union, and UNESCO—Ghana’s renewed drive is part of a broader African movement demanding cultural restitution.
Source: MoTCCA