The Director of the Manhyia Palace Museum, Ivor Agyeman-Duah, has reaffirmed the commitment of the museum and the Asante Kingdom to preserving Ghana’s cultural heritage, advancing restitution efforts, and promoting contemporary Ghanaian art on the global stage.
Speaking at the second edition of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards in Kumasi, Mr. Agyeman-Duah said the initiative continues to play a significant role in elevating Ghanaian art internationally while encouraging local appreciation and protection of cultural assets.
He reflected on the historical experiences of the Asante Kingdom, including colonial looting, exile, and the loss of priceless regalia, stressing that these events continue to influence the creative expressions of Ghanaian artists.
According to him, the return of several looted Asante artifacts from the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum two years ago has strengthened ongoing international engagements on restitution.
Mr. Agyeman-Duah explained that the Art Awards scheme was established under the vision of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to encourage local patronage of Ghanaian artworks at a time when many valuable pieces continue to leave the country through foreign auction markets.
He revealed that artworks by previous laureates, Professor Ato Delaquis and Kwame Akoto, were recently featured in the “Hands of Heritage” exhibition at the National Gallery in Seychelles through a cultural partnership with the Creative Seychelles Agency.
The Museum Director further disclosed that the Manhyia Palace Museum has expanded collaborations with institutions in Eswatini, Rwanda, South Africa, and the United Kingdom to promote African heritage through exhibitions, ICT-driven storytelling, and archival preservation projects.
He noted that the museum has also undertaken extensive photographic archiving initiatives, including “The Images of Kumasi,” a historical visual documentation project supported by a grant from the British Museum under its “Image Makers—Exploring Photographs from Africa” programme.
Providing updates on ongoing restitution efforts, Mr. Agyeman-Duah announced that the Wallace Collection in the United Kingdom will host a major exhibition titled “Encountering Gold—Asante and the Wallace Collection” from April to November 2027.
The exhibition, he said, will feature fourteen gold regalia looted during the Third Anglo-Asante War of 1874 and will be officially opened by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
He also disclosed that the museum has completed the identification and authentication of fifty-six looted Asante artifacts currently held by the Wellcome Collection in London, with formal requests already underway for the permanent return of an initial batch of eight objects expected next year.
Mr. Agyeman-Duah further revealed that a modern central storage and conservation facility is under construction in partnership with Justice & Repair and is expected to become the largest museum storage facility in Ghana upon completion later this year.
According to him, the facility will support the preservation of returned cultural artifacts and complement the soon-to-be-opened Arts and Culture Gallery at the Manhyia Palace.
He additionally announced a partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation for a major exhibition on the Indian Ocean slave trade titled “Forgotten Saints,” which is scheduled to open in Mauritius in August before later being exhibited in Kumasi.
The event also celebrated the contributions of Lady Julia Osei Tutu, Chief Patron of the Art Awards, alongside several international cultural institutions and scholars supporting the preservation and promotion of Asante and African heritage.
Mr. Agyeman-Duah concluded by stating that the revamped Manhyia Palace Museum website will regularly publish updates on restitution efforts, cultural assets, grants, and annual financial reports to promote transparency and deepen international engagement.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
