The Governments of the Netherlands and Germany have announced plans to return about 2,000 looted artefacts and items of cultural significance to Ghana as part of ongoing international restitution efforts.
The announcement was made during the Next Steps Conference, where ambassadors of both countries presented a catalogue of the artefacts scheduled for repatriation to President John Dramani Mahama at the plenary session.
German Ambassador H.E. Frederik Landshöft presenting a catalogue of artefacts to President John Dramani Mahama
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa confirmed the development in a Facebook post on Saturday, June 20, describing it as a major step in efforts to address the historical removal of African cultural heritage during the colonial era.
According to him, the commitment reflects growing international willingness to engage in restitution processes, following sustained diplomatic engagement and recent global policy discussions on cultural heritage.
Mr. Ablakwa further noted that the Foreign Minister of Denmark also issued an apology for the country’s role in the transatlantic enslavement system and pledged support for the preservation of castles built during that period.
He said the pledge forms part of broader efforts aimed at promoting historical truth, acknowledging past injustices, and ensuring non-repetition.
The Foreign Affairs Minister added that Ghana welcomes the development as part of what he described as increasing cooperation from international partners, following the adoption of a Ghana-led United Nations resolution on cultural restitution.
“We applaud the positive conduct of restitution we are beginning to witness from our international partners in Europe since the adoption of the historic Ghana-led UN Resolution,” the Minister added.