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