2nd Edition of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu Art Awards Rocks the Industry.
The second edition of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards took place in Kumasi on Wednesday 13th May 2026 with major Ghanaian artists and two international curators receiving recognition for their works. The Asantehene with Lady Julia Osei Tutu assisted by the Director of the Manhyia Palace Museum, Ivor Agyeman-Duah handed over the awards and associated presents.
The ten-year project with UNESCO-Ghana was attended by 500 art patrons with delegations from the Seychelles Islands, Eswatini Kingdom, the United Kingdom and the United States; ten Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to Ghana and head of UN and other international development agencies.
The recipients were:
Larry Otoo- Painter and Contemporary Traditionalist
Ibrahim Mahama – Jute Sacks architect and installation artist
Julie Hudson- African Curator at The British Museum
Osei Bonsu – The Jorge M. Perez Senior Curator, Tate Modern
Yaw Owusu- Artist of Trade Economics
Victor Butler- Painter
Leon Radegonde- Artist from Seychelles
The Director of Manhyia Palace Museum, Mr. Ivor Agyeman-Duah began by observing a minute of silence in memory of 95 years since the passing of Asantehene Agyeman Prempeh I.
He explained that contemporary Ghanaian and African art faces serious threats due to weak local patronage and the increasing sale of important artworks on foreign auction markets. Agyeman-Duah described the Otumfuo Art Awards as a mechanism for self-renewal, internal appreciation, and cultural preservation.
Mr. Agyeman-Duah further detailed the Manhyia Palace Museum’s ongoing restitution efforts involving major international institutions such as the Wallace Collection, the Wellcome Collection, and the National Army Museum. He also disclosed that an international exhibition titled, Encountering Gold: Asante and the Wallace Collection will open in London and will be accompanied by an international conference involving over 200 participants.
Speaking on preservation and infrastructure development, he announced plans for a modern central museum storage with support received from Justice and Repair that will be completed before the year ends.
Mr. Edmond Moukala– UNESCO Representative in Ghana
Mr. Edmond Moukala described the Manhyia Palace Museum as one of the living hearts of African civilization and praised the Asante Kingdom for preserving cultural dignity, intellectual heritage, and artistic excellence. He also commended Lady Julia Osei Tutu for ensuring that women and young people remain actively included in artistic and cultural development initiatives, describing the awards scheme as an important movement for cultural sustainability and empowerment.
He announced that UNESCO, the World Film Awards in collaboration with the Manhyia Palace Museum, were advancing plans to establish a global film prize on tradition and cultural values in honor of Otumfuo Osei Tutu I for the Africa edition.
Hon. Ablah Dzifa Gomashie – Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts
Praised the Asantehene as one of Ghana’s greatest custodians of culture and heritage. She conveyed greetings from and reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting tourism, culture, and the creative arts sector.
According to her, the creative economy is not merely about entertainment but serves as a strategic pillar for national development, job creation, youth empowerment, and global cultural influence.
Mr. Mduduzi Ndzinisa- Chief Executive Officer, National Trust Commission of Eswatini
Expressed appreciation for the invitation and highlighted the growing cultural relationship between the two Kingdoms. He explained that the collaboration between the Eswatini National Museum and the Manhyia Palace Museum emerged from the friendship and shared vision of the monarchs.
Mr. Ndzinisa referenced the Memorandum of Understanding signed between both museums in November 2025, which committed the institutions to shared knowledge, technical cooperation, and cultural promotion. According to him, the agreement reflects a collective effort to strengthen African cultural institutions and preserve the continent’s historical legacy through collaboration and exchange.
Yvonne Darkwa-Poku, Co-founder, Justice and Repair
Yvonne Darkwa-Poku described the partnership between Justice and Repair and the Manhyia Palace Museum as a shared commitment to cultural restoration, creative excellence, reparatory justice, and restitution.
Speaking on restitution and cultural preservation, Miss Darkwa-Poku stated that the organization remained committed to preserving and documenting restituted cultural objects and ensuring that returned artifacts are housed in dignified and secure facilities. She confirmed support for the construction of a modern archival vault adjacent to the museum to safeguard returned cultural materials and strengthen preservation efforts for future generations.
Ambassador Rune Skinnebach- European Union Ambassador to Ghana
Ambassador Rune Skinnebach emphasized the European Union’s continued support for Ghana’s arts, heritage, and creative industries. He explained that it remains committed to promoting cultural preservation, sustainable fashion, literature, festivals, and youth-centered creative initiatives as part of its broader support for Ghana’s cultural and creative sector.
He commended the Otumfuo Art Awards for projecting Ghanaian and African creativity onto the global stage and praised the initiative for celebrating artistic excellence while inspiring future generations of creatives across the continent.
He further noted that the arts contribute significantly to communication, identity, and social cohesion.
Ambassador Tamas Feher- Hungary Embassy, Accra
Was full of praises for the establishment of the Art Awards and particularly the second edition which also unveiled the works of the Hungarian artist Helene Urszenyi- Breznay who lived in Kumasi for decades and was a friend of the Asantehene, Prempeh II. He said that her art works were about the beginning of Hungary-Gold Coast (Ghana) relationships. The recent opening of a Ghana embassy in Budapest cemented what had been done decades ago in terms of cultural diplomacy.
Ambassador Johanna Svanikier – President, Heritage and Cultural Society of Africa Foundation
She emphasized the urgent need for greater support for creative industries and cultural sector. She explained that her organization, the Heritage and Cultural Society of Africa Foundation (HACSA), was established to promote heritage and culture, nurture creative talent, and empower young people through technology and innovation. According to her, the foundation seeks to combine culture and digital advancement to create opportunities for the next generation.
Ambassador Svanikier encouraged established artists and cultural practitioners to mentor younger generations and help build a stronger creative ecosystem for Africa’s future. She praised and Lady Julia Osei Tutu for their visionary leadership and continued support for Ghana’s creative and cultural sector, describing their efforts as transformative for the preservation and promotion of African heritage and artistic excellence.
