Ghana and Jamaica have both waived entry visa requirements for citizens wanting to travel to and from these two countries, with effect from 1st July 2019.

This was disclosed at a press conference addressed by the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, after the two held bilateral discussions in Kingston, Jamaica, on Saturday, 15th June 2019, as part of President Akufo-Addo’s two-day official visit to Jamaica.

Stressing the importance of Ghana-Jamaica relations, the President indicated that the two nations have an excellent opportunity to building on their strong ties, imposed by culture and history, so as to derive maximum economic value for their respective populations.

“We cannot have visas standing in the way of those relations, so the decision has been taken by my government that, as Ghanaians benefit from visa-free arrangements here in Jamaica, we are also going to provide visa-free arrangements for Jamaicans in Ghana, to facilitate and also make it easier for you to come and join us for the ‘Year of Return’”, President Akufo-Addo added.

With the two leaders pledging to reactivate the Ghana-Jamaica Permanent Joint Commission for Co–operation, which has been dormant for some time, the President explained that, when properly structured, the Commission will serve as a legal framework for the doing of business between the two countries.

“Now, it has come to the time to give teeth to those relations by making sure the various areas of engagement in education, tourism and cultural activity are specifically tied down. That is really my purpose of coming here, apart from a mission to sensitize you in Jamaica about an event that we are commemorating this year,” he added.

Year of Return

Describing Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade as a “horrendous episode of human history”, President Akufo-Addo explained that Ghana is keen on commemorating this event, largely because a large number of slaves came through slave forts located in Ghana.

“We want to commemorate it, to be able to say together that never again will Africa and her people permit themselves to be subjugated to these types of dehumanizing and inhumane events. Never again!” he added

The President continued, “At the same time, we want to use the symbolism of this year to take concrete steps to solidify the relations of our kith and kin in the Americas and the Caribbean. The relationship that we are forming here in Jamaica will form part of the process of solidifying the relations between those of us on the continent of Africa and those of you in the diaspora, outside Africa.”

His visit to the Caribbean, President Akufo-Addo said, has been to “strengthen the relations across the water, and build the bridge that we have to build over the Atlantic so that we could find a way of strengthening each other in growing and empowering our economies, to play a more and more critical role in the new global architecture that is being drawn up now. We are going to have relations that are intimate.”

Source: Presidency.gov.gh

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has described Ghana as the safest country in West Africa, and, is, therefore, asking Africans in the Diaspora to come, explore and experience Ghana in this Year of Return.

Addressing the House of Assembly of St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday, 12th June, 2019, President Akufo-Addo stated that, “in today’s world, where sadly crime and terror have become part of everyday life, I can say that Ghana is certainly the safest country in the West African region, and remains one of the few places on earth where we are not embarrassed to see ourselves as each other’s keeper.”

Ghana, the President stressed, is full of stunning views and scenery that Ghanaians tend to take for granted, but which visitors find breath-taking.

“However, the most attractive and the greatest selling point of Ghana is and has always been her people, the Ghanaian people. The welcome that you find in Ghana, with all due respect to you in this House, is unique, and like none anywhere else,” he added.

The President continued, “Our foods are interesting, and tend to be once sampled, never forgotten. I suspect I do not need to remind you that we are the home of Kente, the fabric that has come to define the black race everywhere, and we lead in fashion on the continent. Our music is catchy and unforgettable, and the drums and rhythms make us stand out.”

President Akufo-Addo told the House that the Year of Return is being used as a bridge to build stronger ties between Ghana, those on the Continent, and the African Diaspora.

“To those of you who would want to come and stay, we say you are most welcome. Africa is your home, and Ghana would be happy to serve as the bridge between the Diaspora and the African continent,” he added.

The President, who is undertaking a 5-nation tour of the Caribbean as part of efforts to promote the “Year of Return, told the House of Assembly in St. Vincent and the Grenadines that 2019 marks the 400th anniversary of the first recorded arrival in America of West African slaves.

“We are remembering the anniversary to underline our determination that, never again, will Africa allow herself and her people to be subjected to such an obscene, degrading and dehumanizing catastrophe”, President Akufo-Addo said.

He continued, “Never again shall it be that a dozen or so armed foreigners, with the connivance of a few of our own people, would reduce Africans to traded commodities.”

With the African Union designating the African Diaspora as the 6th Region of the AU, President Akufo-Addo stressed that “they might have started as slaves, but the contribution of Africans to the development of the Americas and Caribbean is matchless.”

With Africans in the Diaspora having provided the labour that built American railways and American industries and, generally, American infrastructure, as well as those of the Caribbean, the President also referred to the role of Africans in innovation, in science, in sports, in music, in the arts, and in the fashioning of the Americas and the Caribbean.

Inventions that Africans in the Americas have to their names, he said, include, the fibre-optic cable, the pacemaker, blood bank, gas masks, traffic signals, world’s fastest computer, Voice over IP, closed-circuit television, amongst others.

In the sporting world, President Akufo-Addo added that Africans in the diaspora have shown that they are not afraid of hard work and discipline, with football, athletics, basketball, and many other games having been taken to new heights as a result of the efforts of the descendants of those who were forcibly transported to the Americas.

“It says on the last door leading out of the dungeon from the slave castles that dot our coastline, DOOR OF NO RETURN. Let us show we CAN return, we have returned, and we have conquered the humiliation and degradation of 400 years ago,” President Akufo-Addo added.

The Home Coming and Investment Summit, the African-American Investment Forum, the Pan-African and Emancipation Day Celebrations, the durbar from Jamestown to Jamestown, the Film Festival, and the Full Circle Festival are some of the activities that will be held to commemorate the year-long event.

After a full day meeting fans and doing press interviews, Kofi Kingston, the first African to win the WWE Championship, paid a visit to the Jubilee House to meet President Nana Akufo-Addo. It’s always an honour to meet the president, especially for someone who never imagined the level of success he has achieved.  While patiently waiting for the president, Kingston expressed how incredible it was that he was about to meet the president of Ghana.  It’s not anything he would have ever imagined as a young boy.

WWE Champion Kofi Kingston Finally Makes His Visit to Ghana

“If you’re able to achieve your dream there’s nothing more fulfilling,” Kingston said.  When asked how he felt about the opportunity to meet the president, “I’m hoping that through this visit, people will know more about Ghana.”  He hopes to work towards encouraging other Ghanaians in the diaspora to make a visit home.  He expressed that one of his biggest regrets is not travelling with his father to Ghana while he was a senior in high school. His priorities were in finding a job rather than making the trip.  It’s only later in life that he realises and appreciates the value in connecting to Ghana.

Kofi Kingston Kingston Comes Home 

After a few formal greetings with presidential staff, President Akufo-Addo made his way into the room full of friends, family, WWE crew, members of the Year of Return team, Barbara Oteng Gyasi, Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority and Akwasi Ababio, Director of Diaspora Affairs. “We follow you on DSTV and I’m very proud to see the work that you’re doing, the success that you’re having it’s a good advertisement for Ghana, so keep it up,” Akufo-Addo said to Kofi. “You’re very welcome back, 26 years is a long time and I’m assuming it’s not going to be another 26 years.”  The president went on to speak highly of Kinston’s mother, H.E. Dr. Elizabeth Sarkodie-Mensah, who is Ghana’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO.

WWE World Champion Kofi Kingston to visit Ghana after 26yrs

“I’m sure this visit will also touch the hearts of some young people in Ghana who will also one day want to become WWE champions,” the president said to Kofi.  He presented the WWE champ with a gift; a handwoven Kente sash with his name embroidered.  While Kofi presented the president with an honourary Championship belt.

Written by Ivy Prosper

Accra – May 29, 2019 / Written by Ivy Prosper

Kofi Kingston’s team, along with his mother, Elizabeth Sarkodie-Mensah, paid a visit to the Ghana Tourism Authority ahead of his arrival on 30th May 2019. In the surprise visit, Mr Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), introduced them to the “Year of Return” Secretariat and members of the GTA team.

It was a warm and unexpected visit as the production crew who will be filming Kingston in a documentary about his life and his homecoming journey to Ghana, extended their greetings to everyone.  Discussions about Kofi Kingston’s itinerary were in order and preparations for what to expect over the next few days were also discussed.

Kingston will be in Ghana from 30th May to 2nd June 2019.  The WWE Champion hasn’t been to Ghana since 1993 and this trip is expected to be a bittersweet homecoming.  When asked why his trip is only four days considering it’s been over 25 years since his last visit, “His schedule,” was the answer given by one of the film producers.  His mother said she had hoped he would do seven days, but with his hectic schedule doing live events in different countries, getting four days free to travel was already a challenge.

The next few days will be very exciting for both Kingston and the nation.  He exemplifies the level of success many Ghanaians admire.  His presence here will be significant because so many people of African descent living in the diaspora have longed to make the same journey.  It may inspire many more to experience what Ghana has to offer.