Dr. Frimpong lauds Mahama, calls for African unity on reparations, Artefacts return

Historian and lawyer, Dr. Yaw Anokye Frimpong, has commended President John Dramani Mahama for boldly raising the issue of reparations, while urging African leaders to sustain calls for the return of artefacts and valuables stolen during the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Dr. Frimpong made the remarks during an interview on Angel Radio on Tuesday, January 20, amid renewed calls by historians for the international community to pay reparations to African countries for centuries of slavery and colonisation.

According to him, African leaders must unite and amplify the demand for reparations, particularly following acknowledgements by several European countries of their roles in the slave trade.

He also called on Africans on the continent and in the diaspora to unite, stressing that disunity among Africans contributed significantly to the atrocities of the past. His comments followed widespread reactions to the documentary From Slaves to Bond, which continues to garner views on YouTube.

“President Mahama deserves recognition because, among African leaders, he is the one who has consistently brought up the subject of reparations, and the African Union has even established a department specifically for that purpose,” Dr. Frimpong said.

“Today, Europe acknowledges that Africa was plundered and that the 350 years of slavery constituted the most cruel and protracted forced human transplantation in human history,” he added.

Dr. Frimpong emphasised the need for African unity, noting that division had left the continent vulnerable to exploitation.

“The only reason someone would steal what belongs to you is disunity among you. Africans must speak with one voice,” he said. “We must also connect with Africans in the diaspora. We relate to figures such as Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali, even though they are not Ghanaians. Understanding and uniting with them will help ensure that the horrors of the past are not repeated.”

He further urged Africans to learn from global institutions such as the United Nations, which was established to promote unity and prevent future wars after World War II.

Commenting on historical narratives, Dr. Frimpong welcomed the production of documentaries on slavery and the theft of artefacts, saying they provide opportunities for African countries to assess what should be included or corrected in such accounts.

Recall that in November 2025, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, received 130 gold and bronze artefacts from the United Kingdom and South Africa, some of which were looted during colonial times, while others were acquired on the open market.

The returned items included royal regalia, drums, and ceremonial gold weights dating back to the 1870s, highlighting the central cultural role gold played in Asante society.

British soldiers were involved in a series of conflicts in the late 19th century, known as the Anglo-Asante Wars, during which the palace of the Asantehene was plundered twice.

Calls by African countries for the return of looted artefacts have gained momentum in recent years, although some items have only been returned on loan.

In 2024, 32 looted artefacts went on display at the Manhyia Palace Museum as part of a three-year loan agreement between the Victoria and Albert Museum, the British Museum, and the Asante king.

In 2022, Germany became the first country to return Benin Bronzes to Nigeria as part of efforts to confront its “dark colonial history.” The artefacts were looted by British troops in 1897 from the Kingdom of Benin, in present-day Edo State, Nigeria, with many later auctioned in London and dispersed across museums and private collections worldwide.

The post Dr. Frimpong lauds Mahama, calls for African unity on reparations, Artefacts return appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.

Read Full Story