The Netherlands and Germany have committed to returning approximately 2,000 looted artefacts and culturally significant items to Ghana.
The announcement was made during the Next Steps Conference, marking a major milestone in international restitution efforts.
During the conference’s plenary session, ambassadors from both European nations presented a detailed catalogue of the treasures slated for repatriation to President John Mahama.
The breakthrough aligns with a broader shift in European diplomatic relations regarding colonial history.
At the same event, Denmark’s Foreign Minister issued a formal apology for the country’s role in the transatlantic slave trade. In a bid to promote truth-telling and prevent historical erasure, Denmark pledged to assist in preserving the colonial castles it constructed along the Ghanaian coast, framing the effort as a guarantee of non-repetition.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa welcomed the developments, praising the positive steps taken by Ghana’s European partners.
Government officials noted that these actions reflect the growing impact of the historic, Ghana-led United Nations resolution on the restitution of cultural property.
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The Government of Ghana welcomes the commendable announcement from the Netherlands and Germany during the Next Steps Conference that they are ready to return about 2,000 looted artefacts and items of cultural significance back to Ghana.
Ambassadors of the Netherlands and Germany presented a catalogue of the treasures being returned to President John Mahama during the conference’s plenary.
The Foreign Minister of Denmark also apologized for their role in the transatlantic enslavement and pledged to help preserve the castles they built as a good faith effort to prevent historical erasure, promote truth telling and guarantee non-repetition.
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.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
