The British Museum is to return golden treasures to Ghana in an historic loan deal.
The move could help the Elgin Marbles to be returned to Greece.
An agreement has been made to return the looted treasures.
The deal was struck with Ghanaian leader Osei Tutu II – who attended the Coronation of King Charles – and the V&A Museum in London.
It’s thought the arrangement could be the start of brokering a deal with Greece for the Elgin Marbles to be “loaned”.
Greece and other nations – including Nigeria and Ethiopia – are pressing for stolen treasures to be repatriated.
However, UK law prevents objects from being removed from public collections.
More than 30 gold and silver artefacts looted from the Asante – a West African people – could be returned to Ghana.
The Asante were fearsome 18th Century warriors who controlled the gold trade in West Africa.
A senior British Museum source told The Telegraph:
“We are working to strengthen our relationship with our colleagues in Greece.
“We are looking to replicate with the Greek authorities the level of engagement we have with museums in other countries – as this announcement shows”.
They added: “We are still exploring if there were an arrangement that would allow some of the Parthenon sculptures to travel to Greece.
“We may not succeed and reach an agreement, but believe it is worth trying to find a way through to mutual benefit.”
George Osborne, chairman of the British Museum, has been pushing for a partnership with Greece which could allow the Marbles to be returned to Athens.
