Otumfuo Osei Tutu Asks British Museum To Return Gold Items Pillaged From Ashanti Kingdom

• Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has told the British Museum to return gold items looted from the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi by Britain during the 3rd Anglo-Ashanti war
• The Ashanti king has recently met the director of the British Museum for discussions on how the sacred gold items could be returned to Ghana
• Last year Britain returned a collection of Benin Bronzes to Nigeria in what is seen as mounting pressure on the former colonial power

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Ashanti king, has asked the British Museum to return gold items taken from Manhyia during the third Anglo-Ashanti war that occurred from 1873 to 1874.

In that historic war, Garnet Wolseley, a British military general, led over 2,500 troops comprising Indians and other Africans to defeat the Ashanti kingdom.

Many sacred and precious gold items belonging to the Ashanti people were pillaged from the Manhyia Palace by the triumphant British army.

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Otumfuo meets with the director of the British Museum

According to the BBC, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II met the director of the British Museum Dr Hartwig Fischer after attending the Coronation of King Charles to discuss how the precious gold items may be returned.

The museum's director said his outfit is "exploring the possibility of lending items."

Last year a London museum returned a collection of Benin Bronzes looted in the late 19th century from what is now Nigeria.

Many cultural institutions across Britain are under pressure to repatriate artefacts acquired during the colonial era.

Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II meets King Charles III At Buckingham Palace

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh reported in a separate story that Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and his lovely wife Lady Julia met King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on May 4, 2023.

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They attended the coronation of the King which was held on May 6, 2023.

Photos of the two royalties meeting have emerged on social media and gone viral.

Otumfuo showers praise on Kufuor in the UK

Also, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II praised former president John Agyekum Kufuor for being a good president when he was in the UK.

Speaking at a birthday dinner held in honour, Otumfuo told guests that ex-president Kufuor was in a wheelchair today because he chose to work at the Presidency instead of taking a rest after an accident.

The Ashanti king said one of the things that made Kufuor an exceptional leader was that listened to advice.

Source: YEN.com.gh