Kwame Opoku writes: There has recently been a lot of excitement about the ‘returns’ of looted Asante/Ghanaian artefacts to Ghana. These artefacts were looted by the British Army in invasions of Kumasi, the Asante capital, especially in the so-called punitive expedition of 1874.
Two British museums, the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum have agreed to return to Asante/Ghana respectively 15 and 17 looted objects.
The return of thirty-two objects from the 10,000 thousand objects looted in 1874 leaves nine thousand and sixty-eight objects in Britain.
The returned artefacts are on loan to Asante/Ghana for three years after 150 years of exile in Britain. Should those who admittedly stole our artefacts not be generous, at least on the loan term?
Loans instead of outright restitution will affect the demands of Nigeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, and other African countries for their looted artefacts in Britain. Ghana’s acceptance will be used against Nigerian demands.
In their usual concern for fairness, the British will tell the Nigerians that we cannot give you a better deal than Ghana. This will not be fair. We have to maintain the principle of equality…
