Ghana receives 28 Asante gold artefacts in historic ceremony  

The items that were crafted by 19th-century Asante artisans include gold staffs, swords, and jewellery.

They are part of a collection of African Gold from AngloGold Ashanti in South Africa and were housed in museums in Geneva, Cape Town and Pretoria for several years.

The gold artefacts were returned following an agreement with AngloGold Ashanti that was approved by the South African Reserve Bank.

 The objects will be formally presented this weekend at the Manhyia Palace, home to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in Kumasi, Ghana.

The event coincides with the centenary of his ancestor Nana Agyeman Prempeh I’s return from exile.

This year, the Manhyia Palace has received 67 restituted or loaned cultural objects from various institutions in total.

This is the highest recorded in Africa in recent years.

In February, the Fowler Museum at the University of California, Los Angeles, returned seven objects looted during the 1874 Anglo-Asante War. In March, 32 artefacts were restituted from the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Historian Ivor Agyeman-Duah said, "These objects are more than historical artefacts; they are spiritual symbols that connect us to our ancestors."

The Asantehene’s role as both a political and spiritual leader has made their return highly significant for traditional rites at the palace.