Ghana has extended open arms for about 500,000 (Diasporas) African Americans and descendants in other countries whose ancestors were victimized by the brutalities of slavery to return home during this year of memorial observance.
At Washington, D.C., in September 2018, President Nana Akufo-Addo declared and formally launched the “Year of Return, Ghana 2019” for Africans in the Diaspora, giving fresh impetus to the quest to unite Africans on the continent with their brothers and sisters in the diaspora.
The year of Return 2019 marks 400 years of the historical documentation of enslaved people of African descent. It is basically to encourage all Africans in the diaspora to return to Ghana and for that matter Africa to invest and help develop their root.
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture is leading the project in collaboration with the Office of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President, the PANAFEST Foundation and the Adinkra Group of USA.
Speaking on Uniiq FM Breakfast Drive, the Director – Diaspora Relations Officer, at the Office of Presidency and chair, Year of Return Steering Committee, Mr. Akwesi Awua Ababio, said Year of Return 2019 Ghana, marks 400 years since the first ship of slaves from James Town in Accra landed in James Town, Virginia in America.
For this purpose, he said that, the Americans, through their Bill of Act, H.R. 1242, have put in place the mechanisms to enable Americans and the Black Americans to Commemorate the 400 years.
Mr. Ababio also noted that government had already started programs like the PANFEST and the Joseph Project not only to promote tourisms but to make sure that the Africans in Diaspora to reunite with the Black Continent through Ghana as the gateway.
“We on our part as a country, we were already doing things even before the Americans did what they did.
We had started programs that were also keeping us in touch with our diaspora brothers and sisters who through slavery their parents had been taken away long ago. We were always trying to entice and encourage them to come back to Ghana.
When the opportunity came with the H.R.1242, we obviously saw the opportunity to jump on board and with our own initiatives to not only promote tourism but give opportunities to our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora to unite with the Black continent through Ghana, making Ghana the gateway to Africa.” He noted.
The Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Tourism Authority and coordinator, Year of Return Steering Committee, Mr. Akwesi Agyeman said in all, there are 35 activities listed for the event. They include:
JANUARY 2019
- “BRA FIE”
Concert hosted by Damian Marley, Son of Bob Marley
Targeting Caribbean market and local Ghanaian youth involvement.
FEBRUARY 2019
- Back2Africa
Festival to celebrate Black History Month
US music groups performances in Cape Coast Castle and AfricanAncestry.com reveals
MARCH 2019
- Independence Day activities
Key African American figures to celebrate Independence Day
APRIL 2019
- Heritage Paragliding
- Yearly paragliding festival
- Ghana Jamaican Homecoming Festival
JUNE 2019
- Black Prophet Homecoming Celebration and Investment Summit
- Wax Print Film Documentary Festival
Targeting second generation Ghanaians in the diaspora
Ghana Jamaican Homecoming Festival
JULY 2019
- PANAFEST
- Diaspora Affairs
Promote and enhance unity, Pan-Africanism, and the development of the continent of Africa itself. See PANAFEST 2019.
AUGUST 2019
- Jamestown -to- Jamestown
- Emancipation/African American Investment
- Natural Hair Expo
September 2019
- Red Gold Green Festival
- World Tourism Day
October 2019
Blue Print Conference
Forum Marking end of slavery in the Caribbean and an African American investment forum. See Emancipation Day 2019.
NOVEMBER 2019
- Ghana Carnival
- Repositioning Ghana’s Carnival in the world Carnival market
DECEMBER 2019
- Right to Return and Afrochella
A celebration by African Americans who received citizenship in 2016 and Major Youth Carnival in Ghana.
He urged all Ghanaians to get involve of in the event and make it a successful year.
The Manager of the Year of Return, Annabelle McKenzie also added that the year of Return is not just for tourism but it will be an opportunity and a beautiful thing for the Global diaspora being it African Americans, Caribbean, People form the U, K, Brazil, etc. to come back to where their ancestors came from.
“It is not just for tourism. A lot of African Americans, Caribbean, People from the U.K, Brazil, it will be their first time actually coming to Ghana. Everyone that is coming here, do not necessarily going to repatriate. If someone just steps foot to Africa one time it will be a beautiful thing because they are coming back to where their ancestors are and will have a beautiful experience.” She said.
Story by: Mavis Arthur
