Netherlands, Germany to return 2,000 looted artefacts to Ghana – Ablakwa

The Government of Ghana has welcomed announcements by the Netherlands and Germany to return about 2,000 looted artefacts and items of cultural significance to the country.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed this in a social media post on Saturday June 20, 2026, noting that the development was made during the Next Steps Conference held in Accra recently.

According to him, ambassadors of the Netherlands and Germany presented a catalogue of the artefacts to President John Dramani Mahama at the plenary session of the conference.

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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,” he said.

He added that the gesture forms part of growing international cooperation on restitution and historical justice following recent diplomatic engagements led by Ghana.

Ablakwa also noted that the Foreign Minister of Denmark issued an apology for the country’s role in the transatlantic slave trade and pledged support for the preservation of slave castles built during the colonial era.

“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,” he stated.

He further described the developments as a positive sign of shifting attitudes among European partners toward restitution and historical accountability.

“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,” Ablakwa added.



MA