Loaners, keepers! Labour is Ghanaian king's best hope for permanent return of 'looted' golden treasures - as experts say this is 'just the beginning' of repatriation plans for 'stolen' artefacts
A Ghanaian king has revealed his plans to take back 'looted' golden treasures - with a new Labour government tipped to let even more artefacts leave the UK.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who rules the Asante people in the west African country, negotiated a deal for the temporary return of ancestral artefacts from the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Now he hopes to keep hold of the Asante gold for good despite the current Conservative government refusing to change laws which ban museums from repatriating such items overseas permanently.
Sir Keir Starmer's Labour party has been mooted as most likely to give the go-ahead - with experts saying this loan was 'just the beginning' for similar repatriations.
Former Labour MP Tristram Hunt has called for overhauls of the British Museum Act 1963 and the National Heritage Act 1983 which currently bar the two museums from permanently returning items to countries where they originated.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Ghana's Asante king, is said to be keen to permanently keep the Asante gold artefacts handed over by Britain on loan at a ceremony and exhibition last Wednesday
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's party has not ruled out a change in the laws which could make the repatriation of British-held artefacts possible and permanent
This cast gold ornament is among the collection loaned back by the UK to Ghana
This was among the ceremonial caps worn by courtiers at Asante royal coronations
Bosses from both venues took part in a ceremony in the Asante capital Kumasi last Wednesday to mark the handover of royal regalia which had been seized by British troops in the 19th century.
A three-year loan deal has been agreed - but key figures on both sides are keen for this to be extended indefinitely.
Oheneba Owusu Afriyie IV, a prince and member of the Asante inner court, told the Telegraph: 'We are hoping that after the two three-year terms, things would have evolved, and your laws back home might have changed.
'We are very hopeful. Things are evolving to eventually getting them back home.'
The 1963 act prevents the British Museum from giving away anything from its collection - including the Elgin Marbles which Greece wants back - and the 1983 equivalent does the same for the V&A.
The 32 pieces of Asante Gold, named after the African empire from which they were taken, were handed over last week on the three-year agreement which could be extended for another three.
Some 17 of them are from the V&A with the other 15 from the British Museum, with the items going on display at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi.
The objects include a sword of state, gold badges worn by officials, ceremonial caps and pipes.
Writer and academic Ivor Agyeman-Duah, also director of the Manhyia Palace Museum, said a permanent return was 'how it has been envisaged'.
Ghana's Asante king Otumfuo Osei Tutu II (left) looks on during a ceremony last Wednesday to mark the return of artefacts from the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum
A total of 32 Asante gold items are being loaned to the current king for three years, including this Asante gold torc (left) and ring (right)
An Asante gold model harp given to the British Museum has also been handed over
A sword of state taken from the royal court following conflicts between the British Empire and the Asante Empire is being exhibited in Ghana too
And sources close to the Asante king were quoted as saying the loan pact was 'just the beginning' - with a likely push to repatriate more Asante material currently remaining in the two London museums.
Mr Hunt, who was Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central between 2010 and 2017, said: 'Initially it’s a three-year loan, maybe renewable in future, but then we could see a situation whereby the 1963 Act or the 1983 Act was reformed in future.
'My view is that those acts should be reformed and trustees should have responsibility for what is in their collection.
'But that’s not where the Government is at the moment, and we have to respect that.'
The Asante, also known as the Ashanti, are a people who ruled over vast swathe of modern-day Ghana between the 18th and 20th centuries.
Its empire gained vast wealth through gold and agricultural trade, while also being involved in five conflicts with the British empire and its African allies between 1824 and 1900.
Between 1824 and 1900 the empire was involved in five conflicts with the British Empire and its African allies as it tried to enforce control over coastal areas of modern day Ghana.
British success in the fourth and fifth conflicts enabled them to annex the Asante empire and burn the capital Kumasi to the ground.
Former Labour MP Tristram Hunt, now director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, attended the handover ceremony and exhibition in Kumasi, Ghana, on May 1
A ceremonial pipe is also transferred as part of the agreement - with leaders in Ghana insisting they want the returns to be permanent
This gold ring is among the artefacts going on display at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, Ghana
The city and royal palace were then looted, with gold and other artefacts either sold or given to Britain as reparations for the cost of the wars.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has been reported as being open to returning the Elgin Marbes but his party has not confirmed a policy position on the British Museum and National Heritage acts.
MailOnline has contacted the Labour Party for comment.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak snubbed a planned meeting last November with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis amid a flare-up over the Elgin Marbles.
The Greek PM had ramped up public demands for the return of the ancient artefacts which are housed at the British Museum.
Greece has long demanded the return of the Parthenon Sculptures, which were removed from the country by Lord Elgin in the early 19th century during his time as British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.
British Museum chairman George Osborne, the former chancellor, has previously said he is exploring ways for the Elgin Marbles to be displayed in Greece.
There has been speculation that this could involve a loan deal in which part of the sculptures would be sent to Athens.
Along among the 32-item selection taken to Ghana is this oblong gold repousse ornament
A pair of silver anklets is also part of the collection originally seized by British Empire forces following a series of conflicts
There have been suggestions an incoming Labour government could be open to return the Elgin Marbles (pictured) to Greece from their current home at the British Museum
Labour sources said that Sir Keir, whose Holborn and St Pancras constituency is home to the British Museum, would not 'stand in the way' of a loan deal.
A Labour spokesperson said last November: 'Strong cultural and historical partnerships between countries are important to ensure the British Museum, and other UK cultural institutions, can maintain their world leading status.
'The next Labour Government will hear the case from the British Museum and its chair on any proposed changes to the Heritage Act as it stands. We've no current plans to change it.'
Other British-held artefacts which campaigners have suggested for repatriation include the Benin Bronzes and sacred tablets from Ethiopia.
