The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced that the Netherlands will return 2,000 artefacts to Ghana following discussions at the Accra Next Steps Conference on Reparatory Justice.
He disclosed this on Friday at the close of the conference in Accra.
According to him, the Dutch government informed the conference that it had catalogued the artefacts and presented the records to President John Dramani Mahama as part of arrangements for their return.
“We had the Dutch government announce that they are returning 2,000 artefacts that they have catalogued and presented the catalogue to President Mahama,” he said.
He noted that the conference had also secured commitments from other European countries regarding the restitution of African cultural objects and preservation of historical sites linked to the transatlantic slave trade.
Mr Ablakwa disclosed that Germany had identified artefacts from the Bongo traditional area and expressed readiness to return them to Ghana.
He further revealed that Denmark had renewed its apology over its involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and pledged support towards preserving the Christiansborg Castle as a site of historical remembrance.
According to him, the Danish government wants the castle maintained to ensure that future generations understand the atrocities connected to slavery and colonialism.
“There should be no erasure, no denialism and no attempt to minimise what happened,” he said.
Mr Ablakwa said the outcomes of the conference showed growing international acceptance of the need for dialogue, historical accountability and reparatory justice.
He added that the participation of countries from different parts of the world demonstrated that the reparations conversation had become a global movement rather than a discussion limited to Africa and the descendants of enslaved people.
“This process is about healing, reconciliation and truth-telling,the only way we can make progress is by bringing everybody to the table in good faith,” he added.
The minister urged governments and stakeholders to commit themselves to implementing the recommendations contained in the Accra Next Step outcome document, which addresses reparatory justice, cultural restitution, education, historical preservation and global inequality.
Declaring the outcome document adopted by acclamation, Mr Ablakwa said the conference had succeeded in uniting Africans, the Caribbean diaspora and global partners behind a common agenda.
The adoption of the Accra Next Steps Commitment coincided with preparations for the first-ever Juneteenth commemoration held outside the United States, hosted at Christiansborg Castle, a site closely linked to the transatlantic slave trade.
Joyce Adwoa Animia Ocran, ISD
