Distinguished Artists Recognised at 2026 Asantehene Art Awards

Eight distinguished artists have been recognised for creative excellence and their contributions to local, national, and international artistic archives.

They included five Ghanaians and three non-Ghanaians.

The event took place on May 13, 2026, and marked the second edition of the scheme. Hundreds of guests convened at the Manhyia Palace to honour excellence, innovation, and contributions to contemporary art.

Dignitaries Present
The dignitaries who attended included the UNESCO Representative in Ghana, Mr Edmond Moukala; Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Dzifa Gomashie; Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Prof. Rita Akosua Dickson; President of Justice and Repair, Yvonne Darkwa Poku; and Hungarian Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Tamas Feher.

Also present were the CEO of the Eswatini National Trust Commission of the Kingdom of Eswatini, Mouduzi Nozinisa; European Union Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Rune Skinnebach; and Former Ghana Ambassador to France and President of The Heritage and Cultural Society of Africa Foundation, Johanna O. Svanikier.

Awardees
The artists were the founder of the Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art, Red Clay, and Nkrumah Volini in Tamale, Ibrahim Mahama; installation artist and painter based in New York, Yaw Owusu; painter Victor Butler; and painter Larry Otoo.

The rest were portrait artist Afia Prempeh; the first contemporary artist from Seychelles, Leon Radegonde; African Curator at the British Museum, Julie Hudson; and curator Osei Bonsu.

They were presented with plaques by the Asantehene and his wife.

In addition, they received branded, multi-connected, chargeable ICT diaries from Justice and Repair.

Tribute
The assembly opened with a minute of silence in memory of Nana Agyeman Prempeh I, the 13th Asantehene.

In a welcome address, Ivor Agyeman-Duah, Director of the Manhyia Palace Museum, said the day marked 85 years since the King’s death was announced.

According to him, the news was communicated by the elders of Kumasi and the British colonial authorities to the Gold Coast colony.

Inspiration
He noted that the Awards scheme had been instituted in the face of a real threat against contemporary art in Ghana.

“Local acquisition and patronage are increasingly vulnerable, as Ghanaian works are being purchased—or lost—through auction markets abroad. The Otumfuo Art Awards is therefore a mechanism of self-renewal and internal appreciation.”

He applauded the 2026 laureates while acknowledging the contribution of Lady Julia Osei Tutu, the Chief Patron of the Art Awards.

Significance
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) country representative, Mr Edmond Moukala, defined art as not merely an object of admiration but an interpretation of our history, challenging our assertion and imagining our future.

He further acknowledged the importance of the scheme, recognising that it creates the cultural ecosystem for artists to gain visibility, mentorship, and the resources to continue their vital work for decades to come.

He also linked this to Ghana’s leadership in reparation, saying that the return of African cultural heritage means restoring dignity, reconnecting communities with their history, and ensuring that future generations can appreciate the creativity and ingenuity of their ancestors within their own cultural landscapes.

He added, “This is why initiatives just like the Asantehene Art Award matter. They nurture talents, inspire excellence, and create visibility for African artists worldwide.”

Govt Support
For her part, the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Dzifa Gomashie, who was the guest of honour, stated that the creative economy is not merely deemed entertainment but a strategic pillar for national development, job creation, youth empowerment, and global cultural influence.

She observed that this aligns with the mission and vision of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Art Awards, which centre on promoting Ghanaian and African artistic heritage while supporting future generations of creatives.

As such, she assured Otumfuo of the government’s full commitment to supporting his efforts and all national initiatives aimed at promoting tourism, culture, and creative arts.

“The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts remains deeply committed to safeguarding Ghana’s rich cultural heritage through sustained stakeholder engagement, technical consultation, and collaboration with stakeholders such as Parliament, CSOs, private sector practitioners, and international partners.”

Meanwhile, she congratulated the laureates, saying, “Your talents, sacrifice, creativity, and resilience continue to shape the cultural narrative of our nation. Through your work, you tell our story, inspire our youth, and project Ghana’s identity to the world. Tonight’s recognition is richly deserved.”

Eswatini Commitment
Mounting the podium, the CEO of the Eswatini National Trust Commission of the Kingdom of Eswatini, Mouduzi Nozinisa, emphasised his outfit’s commitment to an MoU with the Manhyia Museum, which he described as a diplomatic bridge.

“This document is a solid promise not only to our respective Ministries and institutions but to our people that we extend together to preserve our cultural heritage.”

He also wished for the award scheme to grow in influence and become a premium platform for creative brilliance.

Support to Manhyia an Honour
The Co-founder of Justice and Repair, Yvonne Darkwa Poku, expressed her pride in the opportunity to partner with such a commendable initiative and affirmed her quest to deepen and sustain collaboration with the Manhyia Palace Museum.

“We are committed to initiatives that amplify dialogue on historical injustice, celebrate cultural leadership, and reaffirm the global significance of Asante heritage.”

“We are proud to stand alongside the Manhyia Palace Museum. We are honoured by the opportunity given to us in this important work to support platforms such as this that embody the values of excellence, responsibility, and cultural continuity.”

Arts No Less Priority to EU
The European Union Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Rune Skinnebach, clarified the union’s priority programmes.

He said that though the EU may be Ghana’s number one development partner, largest investor, and largest export market, it does not lose sight of the promotion of the arts.

“We support the preservation of cultural heritage and celebration of diversity.”

One such initiative is the launch of the Sankofa tool, a programme he said is designed to bolster Ghana’s creative industry, heritage, and culture.

Hungarian Artists Bond
For his part, the Hungarian Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Tamas Feher, shared the connections between Asante and Hungarian artists like Helene Urszenyi-Breznay.

He noted that this year’s event held meaningful significance for Hungary, as it marked the 75th anniversary of the portrait of Otumfuo Osei Agyeman Prempeh II, describing it as one of the iconic pieces in the Manhyia Palace Museum.

The creation of the painting, he said, created a lifelong bond.

Chief Patron Honour
The occasion was used to honour Lady Julia with an art gift depicting a mother surrounded by her children.

The portrait was presented by Nana Asante Mamponghene and Nana Apagyahene.

Exhibition Inspection
The King and his wife climaxed the evening’s event with an inspection of an exhibition held as a sideline event.

They were joined by the Director of Manhyia Museum, the Minister for Tourism, the UNESCO representative, and other dignitaries.

The exhibition featured various forms of artworks on display.

Story by Hajara Fuseini

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