Ghana and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have strengthened cooperation on reparations, artefact restitution, heritage preservation and creative arts development following high-level talks in Accra.
The meeting was between Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, and a Netherlands delegation led by Mr Jeroen Verheul, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Ghana.
A key outcome of the meeting was the formal handover of an inventory of Ghanaian artefacts currently held in Dutch collections.
The inventory, compiled by the World Museum in Leiden and presented in both digital and printed formats, is expected to support Ghana’s efforts to identify artefacts of historical and cultural significance for possible restitution.
Madam Gomashie welcomed the initiative, describing it as “a practical and important step toward historical justice and consistent with Ghana’s reparative justice agenda.”
She said the process would complement the work of President John Dramani Mahama in his role as the African Union’s Special Envoy on Reparations.
The meeting also discussed the preservation of Ghana’s forts and castles, including Fort Prinzenstein, with a focus on shared international responsibility for their conservation through UNESCO-supported mechanisms.
On the creative economy, the Minister said there was the need for increased investment, skills development and strong institutional partnerships to unlock the sector’s full economic potential.
She said Ghana had litigation-free land available for investment and stressed that sustainable growth in the creative industries would require strategic partnerships beyond public funding.
Mr Verheul reaffirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to the restitution of objects acquired through force or coercion, following formal requests and joint provenance research by Ghanaian and Dutch experts.
He said decisions would be guided by an independent restitution committee.
The Ambassador also confirmed Ghana’s designation as a Netherlands focus country for cultural cooperation, supported by a structured programme and dedicated funding since 2024.
Edited by Kenneth Sackey, GNA
