By: Akosua Frema Frempong
Eight artists, comprising five Ghanaians, two British and a Seychellois, were honoured at this year’s Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.
The awards, instituted by the Manhyia Palace Museum in collaboration with UNESCO and Justice and Repair, celebrate excellence, innovation and contributions to contemporary art while promoting Ghana’s cultural heritage on the global stage.
The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards was instituted in May 2025 by the Manhyia Palace Museum to promote traditional and modern visual art in Ghana’s cultural development.
The initiative followed the successful negotiation and return of some major royal regalia looted from the Manhyia Palace during the 1874 and 1896 Anglo-Asante wars and the subsequent exhibition, dubbed “Homecoming”.
The eight artists who were selected to receive this year’s awards followed a Memoranda of Understanding signed with the Republic of Seychelles, Eswatini, and Rwanda, to expand their reach. Consequently, three of the eight laureates this year are non-Ghanaians.
The award beneficiaries were Larry Otto, Ibrahim Mahama, Afia Prempeh, Yaw Owusu, Osei Bonsu, Victor Butler, Julie Hudson and Leon Raddegonde.
The Director of the Manhyia Palace Museum, Mr. Ivor Agyemang-Duah, explained that the eight laureates were selected based on an anonymous, independent jury responsible for the headhunting and assessing the works of the artists to ensure absolute merit.
“The institution of the awards aims to shift the creative outlook of visual artist, from goldsmiths and bronze casters to terracotta artists in the 1800s. The most visible reminders of these were returned from the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum two years ago. The Asantehene’s position was that contemporary art in Ghana faces a real threat. Local acquisition and patronage are increasingly weak, as Ghanaian works are being purchased or lost through auction markets. The Otumfuo Art Awards is therefore a mechanism of self-renewal and internal appreciation. After the inaugural last May, two works of the Laureates, Professor Ato Delaquis and Kwame Akoto, were a part of the Hands of Heritage Exhibition at the National Gallery in Victoria, Seychelles”, Mr. Agyeman explained.
The Minister for Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Madam Dzifa Gomashie, assured the Government’s full commitment towards supporting efforts and all national initiatives aimed at promoting tourism, culture and creative arts.
“The government remains fully committed to supporting your efforts and all national initiatives aimed at promoting tourism, culture and creative arts. We recognize that the creative economy is not merely entertainment, but a strategic pillar for national development, job creation, youth empowerment and global cultural influence. This is in line with the mission and vision of the Asantehene Art Awards, which centers on promoting Ghanaian and African artistic heritage while supporting future generations of creatives. I’m therefore happy to inform you, Your Majesty, that the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts remains deeply committed to safeguarding Ghana’s rich cultural heritage through sustained stakeholder engagement, technical consultations and collaborations with stakeholders such as parliament, civil society, private sector practitioners and international partners”, Madam Dzifa Gomeshie disclosed.
The UNESCO Representative, Mr. Edmond Moukala, indicated that art must create an environment where artists will gain visibility and access to resources.
“UNESCO believe that museums are the true classroom of the soul. No longer can museums be static repositories of artefacts. There must be active participants in the creative economy. Our collaboration with the Manhyia Palace Museum in the context of this award is a testament to this belief. By housing the work of the laureate within this historic precinct, we are situating contemporary excellence within the continuum of the Ashanti history. The museum’s commitment to modern, correct oral standards, research and documentation serves as an international model for how traditional sites can lead in the globalized digital age,” Mr. Moukala noted.
All eight laureates were presented with citations.
A special award was given to the wife of Asantehene, Lady Julia Osei Tutu, as the Chief Patron of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu the Second Art Awards.
Asantehene joined dignitaries present at the event to tour an exhibition mounted. The event hosted over 500 local and foreign dignitaries, artists, and international agency representatives.
