In a startling revelation during a symposium commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Sagrenti War of 1874, Prof Tom McCaskie, Head of the Centre of West African Studies at Birmingham University, disclosed that beyond artefacts, gold dust was part of the looted treasures during the war.
Delivering a keynote address on February 6, 2024, Prof McCaskie emphasized the historical significance of the gold dust, stating that it's a crucial aspect of Asante history that has been overlooked.
He highlighted the wealth accumulated by Asantehene Kofi Karikari's predecessor, Nana Kwaku Dua I, lost in the looting. The gold was kept in different places in Kumasi, including Kumasi, Aburaso, and Breman, bequeathed to Kofi Karikari at Nana Dua's death in 1867.
“The amount of gold contained in Adakakese alone at Kwaku Dua's death was more than 400,000 ounces. This in 1867 was worth 1.2 million pounds sterling. The current value of the Adakakase is somewhere over 2 billion pounds,” he revealed.
Notably, the historian pointed out that no history of the war makes any allusion to the looted gold, as it was private loot separate from the cultural artefacts that efforts are being made to retrieve.
Dr McCaskie encouraged the Kingdom to fight for the restitution of all that it duly deserves, suggesting that more than artefacts could be demanded from the British.
Negotiations to retrieve stolen artefacts began in 1921, and in the era of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, agreements have been made with the British Museum and the Victoria & Albert Museum to return items on loan, expected to arrive in May this year. The Fowler Museum in Los Angeles has already returned seven pieces of Asante artefacts permanently.