Repatriations from the Ethnological Museum

Foundation Board authorises Marion Ackermann to return objects with human remains to Ghana and to hold discussions with Australian authorities regarding spiritual objects.

3. December 2025

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German Lost Art Foundation

Humboldtstr. 12
39112 Magdeburg
Germany
Phone:  +49 (0) 391 727 763 0
E-mail:  kontakt@kulturgutverluste.de
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German Lost Art Foundation Berlin Branch Office

Seydelstr. 18
10117 Berlin
Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 391 727 763 0
E-mail: kontakt@kulturgutverluste.de

The Help Desk offers advice and assistance to victims of the Nazi regime and their descendants on questions relating to Nazi theft of cultural property. Serving as a central and initial low-threshold point of contact in Germany, it is aimed in particular at people whose place of residence is outside Germany and who are unfamiliar with German procedures, especially in connection with cultural federalism. The Help Desk seeks to provide support in taking initial steps as well as providing further contacts and information. We will also be happy to help initiate discussions with museums and other institutions.

German Lost Art Foundation, Branch Office
Dr. Susanne Meyer-Abich
Head of Help Desk

Seydelstr. 18
10117 Berlin
Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 30 2338493 85
E-mail: helpdesk@kulturgutverluste.de

The Ethnological Museum of the National Museums in Berlin holds four objects from Kpando in present-day Ghana to which human remains are attached. At its recent meeting, the Foundation Board of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation (SPK) authorised President Marion Ackermann to conclude an agreement with the relevant authorities in Ghana on the repatriation of these objects. The Board also authorised her to hold discussions with the relevant authorities regarding three objects from Australia that possess particular spiritual significance, with a view to finding a solution.

Full press release: https://www.preussischer-kulturbesitz.de/en/index.html