Since the declaration of 2019 as the ‘Year Of Return’ by the President, Nana Akufo Addo, many people of Africa origin have been visiting Ghana and many more are coming. Just some few days ago, US WNBA 2times Olympic Gold medalist Angel McCoughtry announce her upcoming visit to Ghana which has now been confirmed.

Angel McCoughtry who plays for the Atlanta Dream in the @wnba is landing in Ghana today. She will be doing a Basketball Clinic at Tema’s famous Chinese Basketball Court in Community 4 on Friday 23rd August. That’s tomorrow!!

Basketball lovers who want to learn here’s your chance. Ladies who are dreaming of going pro! Here’s your chance to meet a woman doing what you can set your mind to do.

#basketballcamp
#yearofreturn#Accra#Tema#sports

The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Babara Oteng Gyasi has expressed optimism that the interests and investment “The Year of Return” has generated will spill over into the year 2020.

“The year of return is just the foundation and we are leveraging and building on it going forward and we are going to derive immense benefit from it,” she noted.

At a durbar held on Tuesday, August 20 to welcome a number of Diasporans who had come to Ghana for the event, the minister reiterated that the commemoration is a year’s program because 2019 marks the 400th year of the beginning of the slave trade so we set out a yearlong program of activities.

“But we are leveraging it as a foundation going forward for the years to come.

So you might notice that there are people who may have heard what is going on in Ghana and were not able to visit this year and thus will come next year,” she said.

She noted that there are people who want to have activities but they couldn’t fit it in this year so we are looking at programming them for next year.

Activities like the Ghana carnival in November and the Sankofa music festival are expected to be part of the major events that climax the program.

The Year of Return Ghana 2019 is a marketing campaign targeting Africans in the diaspora to mark 400 years since the first slaves arrived in Jamestown, Virginia.

Source:ghanaweb.com

As several African Americans partake of the much-talked-about Year of Return, Tourism Minister, Barbara Oteng Gyasi says the business potential program it has had on Ghana’s tourism so far has been phenomenal.

Speaking at the ‘James Town to James Town’ African American Business Summit Barbara Oteng Gyasi said “the Year Of Return will be the pivot on which we (gov’t) puts Ghana on the world stage when it comes to tourism. This list of activities has already seen us gaining the needed ground when it comes to the destination choice”.

The James Town to James Town African American Business Summit brought together participants from the African American community in the US state of Virginia to exchange thought leadership ideas on exploring business opportunities in Ghana.

CEO of the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC), Yoofi Grant said: “most of these African-Americans from the Diaspora are looking at investment avenues in (Ghana) which estimate in the billions of dollars”.

Already, some renowned African American personalities including Actor and Talk Show Host Steve Harvey have been in Ghana. Barbara Oteng Gyasi says the economic benefits and investment potential has been massive so far.

The Year of Return, which is being championed by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture through the Ghana Tourism Authority, correlates with this year’s PANAFEST and Emancipation Day.

It is aimed at enticing brothers and sisters of African descent in the Diaspora to return to Ghana, and by extension Africa, to help develop their roots.

Source: Myjoyonline

This week marks 400 years since the first African were forcefully brought to the United States. To memorialize this history, more than 200 African Americans made their way to Virginia, the first leg in a week-long journey retracing the steps of their ancestors dubbed Jamestown 2 Jamestown.

Emotions were raw as the delegation gathered at the Historic Jamestown Visitor Center, to symbolize their ancestors’ arrival in Point Comfort and Fort Monroe in the Jamestown area of Virginia. The NAACP, along with its partner, The Adinkra Group, put together a moving program which called upon attendees to reflect on the significance of the African history in America.

“Today, we stand here as their descendants, empowered by their legacy, emboldened by the knowledge that we built this country, and enlightened from today’s experience,” said Leon W. Russell in his speech to the spirited crowd. “As crucial as it is to look back on our history, today is a turning point for us, because we know we must forge a path ahead for the African American community in this democracy.”

NAACP President and CEO echoed similar sentiments, calling attention to the stark reality African Americans face today – a President in the White House who calls into question their patriotism, when in fact, their ancestors built up the colonies with their bare hands, fought for the independence of the nation, and continued to fight for the protection of the union in every war since the Revolutionary war.

A highlight of the program was a tribute to the ancestors. Participants had the opportunity to write a letter to their ancestors and place it in a fire, a symbolic African tradition.

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As the group departed Jamestown, several people reflected on what the experience meant to them. “I’m happy I was able to do this,” said Maura, a participant in the message writing. “I get sad when I think about the people who couldn’t be there, like Travyon Martin and Eric Garner, but I’m glad I was able to be present and have that connection with my ancestors.”

The group continues their journey tomorrow to the National Museum of African American History, and then to Jamestown, Accra, Ghana.

Source: www.naacp.org

2019 marks the 400th anniversary of the first enslaved Africans from Ghana arriving on the shores of Jamestown, Virginia. While this sordid history is a tough pill for both sides of the tale to swallow, the country has chosen to commemorate the occasion with a “Year of Return” celebration that acknowledges the cumulative resilience of all the victims of the Trans Atlantic slave trade who were scattered and displaced through the world, and calling them “home” to Ghana.

Throughout the year, many people of African descent across the diaspora have made the journey to Ghana to partake in the numerous conferences and vibrant festivals, like Afrochella and the Chale Wote Street Art Festival. Recently, Steve and Marjorie Harvey along with their family, made the journey ‘home’ and the experience was a soul-stirring one.

During a visit to the Elmina Slave Trade Castle, walking the path of their ancestors through the castle and out of the “Door of No Return,” took a deep emotional toll on the Harvey clan as the weight of history fell heavy on their hearts and spirits.

“This was real pain I felt going back to Ghana’s slave castles…I could feel my ancestors on me… Powerful beyond words that I can explain. I encourage as many of you as possible to go HOME for your ancestors. Their strength is in each of us and we must honor their ultimate sacrifice in all that we do,” said Harvey.

Steve Harvey Welcomed to Ghana

Part of the heritage journey of any society comes from also learning and interacting with persons who have seen it all, and have contributed to creating and maintaining Ghana’s identity as a culture and heritage destination. The Miss Heritage Global ladies planted trees at Sakumono as part of their 10-day experience in Ghana which saw them visit the Cape Coast Castle and many other places.

Miss Heritage Global ladies Plant Tree ahead of Contest

The Miss Heritage Global queens achieved this when they called on former President Jerry John (JJ) Rawlings today at his residence ahead of the contest tomorrow.

The Miss Heritage Global event is being hosted by Ghana as part of the ‘Year of Return’ Ghana 2019 celebrations. Grab your tickets and join us at the Accra International Conference Center, on August 17, 2019 at 6pm.