New York City Mayor-elect Eric Adams to visit Ghana in fulfillment of promise
Mayor-elect Eric Adams will leave for a long-planned trip to the West African country of Ghana late Monday despite concerns over the new Omicron coronavirus variant in the continent’s southern region, his spokesman told The Post.
“I made a promise to myself that I would visit Ghana following the 400-year anniversary of slavery in America and the election, to show how far we have come and remember how far we still must go,” said Adams, who will be the city’s second black mayor.
The grim anniversary of slaves arriving in America passed in 2019. At the time, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a delegation to Ghana to mark the historical event and the West African country encouraged the descendants of slaves to travel to their motherland for a “Year of Return.”
“This election to me was, among other things, about resetting a negative narrative so that we can have a more just and united future. I will continue to be in contact with the transition team on our progress toward Jan. 1, and with the mayor on pressing matters including Omicron while I’m in Ghana,” Adams told The Post exclusively.
He will make the weeklong trip to Ghana with family. He’s expected to return Dec. 8.
Advisers had told The Post Sunday he was reconsidering the jaunt because of the Omicron variant that originated in southern Africa and has since spread to other countries around the world.
Mayor-elect Eric Adams said he made a promise to himself to go to Ghana following the 400-year anniversary of slavery in America, which occurred in 2019.
But Adams, who is fully vaccinated and recently received a booster shot, decided to keep to his plans. Ghana and South Africa are approximately 4,000 miles apart, even farther than the distance from New York to California.
“When it comes to COVID, I have said time and time again that I will follow the science and our public health professionals as a leader — and right now travel is banned only to south African countries out of an abundance of caution.
“Should the federal government change their guidance on travel, I will immediately follow it. Meanwhile, New Yorkers must remain vigilant about preventing the spread of COVID, including wearing masks and getting their vaccines and booster shots,” Adams said.
City Health Commissioner David Chokshi said Adams — or any other New Yorker — should feel free to travel abroad if they’re fully vaccinated.
Source: NYPost