Accra:British politician Lord Paul Boateng has urged the British Museum to return artefacts taken from Ghana, Ethiopia, and other nations, emphasizing the need for reparative justice.
According to Ghana Web, Lord Boateng criticized the British Museum for its lack of progress in returning cultural objects and sacred relics to indigenous communities. He described the museum as "the largest depository of stolen goods known to man," and condemned its failure to engage in meaningful dialogue for the restitution of these items.
Lord Boateng specifically demanded the return of an Ethiopian tabot, a sacred object related to the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, by next year. He also insisted on the return of the Benin Bronzes and Ashanti gold, arguing against merely lending these cultural objects back to their countries of origin, which he believes does not address historical injustices adequately.
He further called on the British Museum's trustees and supporters to actively pursue reparative justice, citing institutions like the Church of England as examples of those engaging with historical accountability. Concluding his remarks, he emphasized the importance of confronting the legacy of colonialism and the retention of cultural heritage.