By Muyid Deen Suleman
Kumasi, Nov 24, GNA – Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, The Asantehene, has taken delivery of 28 gold artefacts looted during the Sagrenti War at a grand durbar at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
This formed part of activities to make the 100th anniversary celebration of the return King Prempeh I from exile.
Representative of AngloGold Ashanti who purchased the artefacts from an art collector at West African works in 1922, handed over the ornaments to the King of Asante, bringing the total number of restituted Asante artifacts from the British plunder in the 1900s to 67.
The symbolic artifacts from South Africa include linguist staff, swords, palace security locks, rings, necklaces, and proverbial gold-weights depicting crocodiles and gold scandals.
Leading the official handover at the Durbar were Mr. Stewart Bailey, the Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs for AngloGold Ashanti, Ambassador Baso Sangqu, the Senior Vice President Group Sustainability,
Dr. Ivor Agyemang-Duah, Director of the Manhyia Palace Museum, said the decision to approach the mining firm for the artifacts followed intelligence about the housing of some Asante Artefacts at Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria.
Mr. Stewart Bailey, the Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs for AngloGold Ashanti, said he was honoured to be involved in the return of the artifacts to their rightful place.
“It is a profound honour for me personally to be engaged in the project to transport the treasures here to Kumasi where they were crafted.
“We are deeply honoured to be part of this significant moment in history to ensure that these cultural treasures are accessible not only to the Ashanti people but to Ghanaians in general,” he remarked.
The artifacts will now be exhibited in the Manhyia Palace Museum.
Among those in attendance were paramount chiefs of Asante, the President of Seychelles, H.E. Wavel Ramkalawan, First Lady of Seychelles, H.E. Linda Ramkalawan, Prime Minister of Eswatini, Russell Mmiso Dlamini,
GNA