Lord Paul Boateng urges British Museum to return looted Asante gold

Lord Paul Yaw Boateng, a prominent British Labour politician, has issued a sharp demand for the British Museum to return looted cultural artefacts to their countries of origin. Speaking at a Chatham House event held to commemorate Black History Month, Lord Boateng specifically called for the full restitution of Asante gold, the Benin Bronzes, and Ethiopian Tabots. He urged the public and international allies to exert pressure on the museum's trustees to move beyond current policies and facilitate the return of these significant historical items.

During his address, Lord Boateng described the British Museum as the "largest depository of stolen goods known to man," criticizing what he characterized as a lack of meaningful action regarding reparative justice. He emphasized that the presence of these items in London remains a barrier to reconciliation between the United Kingdom and African nations. The Asante gold, in particular, remains a focal point for Ghanaians, representing both the artistic heritage and the spiritual history of the Asante people that was seized during colonial-era military expeditions.

The call for restitution highlights a growing global movement targeting Western institutions to address the legacy of colonial acquisitions. Lord Boateng’s remarks underscore the shift from temporary loans toward the permanent return of artefacts as a necessary component of reparative justice. By identifying specific items like the Ethiopian Tabots—sacred altar tablets—and the Benin Bronzes, the politician has refocused the debate on the ethical responsibilities of modern museums to rectify historical grievances and restore cultural sovereignty to the global south.