The Year of Return Ghana 2019 has been endorsed by the African Union as having the potential to impact positively on the economic fortunes of not only Ghana, but the continent at large.
In a brief tourism stakeholder meeting at the Diaspora African Forum (DAC) at Dubois Centre in Accra last week, Deputy AU Chair, Ambassador Kwesi Quartey said, it was important for Ghana to recognize the event as having a link with the entire Africa in order to derive maximum benefit from the celebration.
“One thing we have consistently done at the AU Commission, is to ensure and enhance a sense of belonging and identity among African in the diaspora to always come home with available skills and knowledge to impact on the continent. We are also working to connect the entire African community”, Ambassador Quartey noted.
He continued, adding, “the Year of Return 2019 which is designated by the government of Ghana to mark the arrival of the first enslaved Africans to America have our fullest support and the AU hopes the events would lead to renewed energy towards making the continent a better place”.
Ambassador Erieka Bennet, Head of Mission, Diaspora African Forum, explained that the various events of the ‘Year of Return’ has been positioned to bring maximum benefit to Ghanaians and the diaspora.
GTA’s CEO, Mr. Akwasi Agyeman recounted some of the benefits of the event, and said, “at the Back2Africa concert and event, a group of African-Americans have adopted Nyame Bekyere, a farming community near Koforidua and are committed to providing potable water, and community libraries for the townsfolk”.
By Wisdom Jonny-Nuekpe
