As part of the ongoing 2024 Emancipation Day Celebration, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) took a significant step in strengthening its partnership with the Oguaa Traditional Area by paying a courtesy call on the Omanhene, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, the Paramount Chief of Cape Coast. This important meeting took place on Tuesday, July 30th, 2024, at his palace in Cape Coast.

The courtesy call was a gesture of respect and appreciation for Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II’s unwavering support and collaboration in promoting tourism and preserving cultural heritage in the Central Region. The GTA delegation was warmly received by the Omanhene, highlighting the deep-rooted connection between the traditional leadership and the authority responsible for advancing Ghana’s tourism agenda.

During the meeting, Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II emphasized the importance of preserving Ghanaian culture, particularly through education. He called on the GTA to integrate more educational programs into the Emancipation Day activities, ensuring that the youth are educated about Ghanaian heritage and culture. His appeal reflects a broader vision of empowering the next generation with the knowledge of their rich cultural history, which is crucial for maintaining the country’s identity.

As part of the Emancipation Day activities, a significant event will take place this evening, July 31st, with the Reverential Night in Cape Coast. This solemn event will bring together people from all walks of life, including traditional leaders, Ghanaians, and members of the African diaspora, for a candlelight vigil. The vigil will proceed through the streets of Cape Coast, ending at the historic Cape Coast Castle (dungeons).

The gathering at Cape Coast Castle will be a powerful moment of reflection and remembrance. Traditional leaders will meet with the diaspora and other attendees to pour libations, offer prayers, and honor the memory of those who lost their lives and those who, through their resilience, survived the atrocities of the transatlantic slave trade.

The collaboration between the GTA and the Oguaa Traditional Area highlights the importance of unity in celebrating and preserving Ghana’s cultural heritage. These types of partnerships and events, help support Ghana’s long-standing vision of Pan-Africanism. The country continues to honor its past while educating future generations, ensuring that the legacy of those who endured the horrors of slavery is never forgotten, so that it never happens again.

This year the festival featured a partnership with YouTube, Twitter and Instagram. The festival grounds featured interactive areas where festival-goers, often called ‘Afrochellans’, could take pictures and create videos to share their experiences for YouTube and Twitter. One of the most popular installations was one that featured the distinct culture of people in Northern Ghana.

Visit our Beyond the Return Facebook Page to see more highlights from the event.

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Two survivors of what is known as the ‘Black Wall Street’ Massacre of 1921 are coming to Accra this month.  Mother Viola Fletcher is 107 years old and will be travelling with her 100-year-old brother, Hughes Van Ellis aka ‘Uncle Redd’.  Together they will fulfill their dream to travel to the African continent.  They chose Ghana, West Africa because the country has shown itself to be a success story and one with a strong pan-Africanist history welcoming the African diaspora for decades.

Until recently, the tragic events of the massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma were rarely discussed and hidden from American history.  From May 31 – June 1, 1921, a violent mob of whites in the city of Tulsa ambushed the prosperous Black community known as Greenwood.  This area has been referred to as ‘Black Wall Street’ because of the level of independence, financial success and freedom the community experienced.  The mob burnt the community to the ground which left Greenwood completely destroyed.  Black residents lost their homes and businesses. It was the complete erasure of everything they had built over several years.  It’s estimated that 3000 people were attacked and gunned down with bodies dumped in unmarked graves.  Mother Fletcher and her brother ‘Uncle Redd’ are survivors of this horrible massacre.  It’s a piece of American history that was kept hidden for decades and it’s only in recent years that it’s become more openly spoken about in America. 

The city of Tulsa commemorated the 100-year anniversary of the massacre with a ceremony attended by President Joe Biden. “For much too long, the history of what took place here was told in silence, cloaked in darkness.  But just because history is silent, it does not mean that it did not take place.  And while darkness can hide much, it erases nothing.  It erases nothing.  Some injustices are so heinous, so horrific, so grievous they can’t be buried, no matter how hard people try,” remarked Biden at the ceremony. 

Mother Fletcher recalls the events of the massacre saying, “On that first night, in 1921, I went to bed in my family’s home in Greenwood, a community that was rich, not only in terms of wealth, but in culture, community, and heritage,” she said. “My family had a beautiful home. We had great neighbors, and I had friends to play with. I felt safe. I had everything a child could need. I had a bright future ahead of me. Greenwood could have given me the chance to truly make a good life in this country. But within a few horrible hours, all of that was gone.” But now, after all these years, I’m so happy to be fulfilling a lifelong dream of going to Africa and I am so pleased that is to beautiful Ghana.”

OUR BLACK TRUTH and the Diaspora African Forum (DAF) are sponsoring this historic trip for Mother Fletcher and her brother Uncle Redd.  DAF has prepared tours and receptions at special events to honor them.  “I will never forget all that we escaped that so many others did not. I relive my memories of the Massacre every day…” Mother Fletcher said. “When my family was forced to flee Tulsa, I lost my chance at an education. I never finished school past the fourth grade, and never made much money. But now, at long last, at least I get to see Africa before I see God.”

By: Ivy Prosper

“Water is life,” Margaret Ofori said with so much joy after she took the first sip of water from the borehole commissioned in her town, Ayikuma, which straddles on the border of the Eastern Region and Greater Accra. This borehole marks the fiftieth mechanised borehole donated by the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in partnership with TEAM CSR Ghana. Access to clean water is a challenge in many communities across the country and they are on a mission to change that.

Jonathan Akuamoah, CEO/Founder of TEAM CSR Ghana said, “When the Omega Psi Phi came here during the great initiative of the Year of Return, they didn’t just want to leave as tourists, they wanted to make sure that they make an impact in the community.”  Their initial goal was to commission 24 mechanised boreholes in Ghana. Their first was in 2019 at the Akropong School for the Blind and the impact was immediately felt by the students and the surrounding community. Akuamoah said they want to help needy communities to have access to safe drinking water across the country.

The Chief of Dodowa, Okukrubuor Nene Tei Kwesi Agyemang V, was in attendance and incredibly happy that the community will have one of its major problems solved with this borehole. “As we all know, water is life,” said Okukrubuor Nene Tei Kwesi Agyemang V, “And so where there is no water, it is difficult for people to settle…bringing this borehole into this community, I believe it’s going to go a long way to help.” 

Akwasi Ababio, Director of Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President, has had many interactions with people in the diaspora community and he was thrilled to see that the men of Omega Psi Phi have come together to do something positive for Ghana. “One of the pillars of ‘Beyond the Return’ is that we should give back to the community. The diaspora who were invited here during the Year of Return have been implored to come home and do things to help building our economies, our communities and life in general,” said Ababio. “It’s in response to that, that the Omega Psi Phi has gone out of their way to do the benevolent work that they’ve been doing.”

Members of the community gathered with excitement after the official ribbon-cutting ceremony and Akuamoah opened the taps to see plenty of water flowing. Residents were overjoyed. “I’m happy because water is life,” said Ofori. She took the first sip of water and was relieved to know they now have easier access to water for daily living. She thanked the Chief and everyone who contributed to them having this borehole for the community.

The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in partnership with TEAM CSR Ghana, plans to continue bringing access to clean water to more communities in Ghana. “We hope to do 100 boreholes,” said Akuamoah. He was presented with a plaque by the chief as a token of thanks. “I am donating this plaque to show our appreciation for the wonderful job you have done for us,” he said, “…And we wish that this not be the last, but let water go to the areas of Ghana where water is needed.”

For information on how you can support them in their continued service to donate boreholes across the country, contact TEAM CSR Ghana through their website, www.teamcsrghana.org.

By: Ivy Prosper

WNBA player Imani McGee-Stafford is passionate about giving back to the community, especially to young women and girls.  She has been sharing her positive message and conducting basketball clinics for youth in Ghana with the Impact Youth Foundation since she arrived over a week ago.  “The fact that I’m here on the other side of the world, being able to do something that I love and share a part of myself is…I can’t even use words to describe the feeling,” she said.  The basketball clinics, which are officially endorsed by the Beyond the Return Secretariat, are a part of Impact Week, travelling to different areas of the country to impact girls using the game of basketball.

She told the young women in Accra that last year she visited Kenya and Tanzania.  She conducted a basketball camp in Tanzania and decided she wanted to eventually come to Ghana.  She has been looking forward to this trip and was excited she has been able to accomplish so much both in reconnecting to the motherland and in giving back to the girls.  “I make it a practice that when I travel, I make sure that I have time to do community service and give back,” she said.

McGee-Stafford travelled to Hohoe in the Volta Region to provide the youth at the Mawuvi Basketball Fellowship with the lifetime opportunity of learning from a professional basketball player.  They were deeply grateful and enjoyed every minute of it.  On May 22, she helped to officially launch the ‘She Shines’ basketball clinic at Ghana International School in Cantonments.  “The launch of the She Shines project is about development through sports and giving back,” said Isaac Robert Kwapong, founder and director of Impact Youth Foundation.  He said the foundation is a registered non-profit organization that focuses on children, adolescents and young adults using sports as the vehicle to provide life skills training and mentorship opportunities.  Kwapong said that through the She Shines programs they hope to impact at least 1000 girls every year through basketball.

On May 24^th they also took the basketball clinic to Kumasi where another group of girls was eager to be inspired and to participate.  McGee-Stafford has spoken to almost 600 girls and over 100 have participated in the She Shines clinic since she arrived. “It’s been amazing, super overwhelming and immensely humbling,” she said. One of the girls wrote a letter to Imani after hearing her speak in Kumasi.  In her letter she wrote, “You have really inspired me to be the best version of myself.”  Kwapong shared what an impact McGee-Stafford has been having on the girls. “It’s been inspiring and fulfilling to see the eyes and faces of all the girls light up whenever they heard Imani say, ‘You are important and I love you.’” he said. “So many girls have been literally inspired to become the best they can be, and I can’t wait to see the She Shines Clinic run all across the country and who knows, even across Africa.”

For information on how you can support Impact Youth Basketball visit the website at www.impactyouthfoundation.org. 

By: Ivy Prosper

McGee-Stafford has been playing professional basketball in the WNBA since she was drafted in 2016.  Her illustrious career has been documented on several media outlets including ESPN, Player’s Tribute, ABC Sports, Indiana Fever, Forbes and Collegiate Women.  The 26-year old athlete stands 6-foot-7 inches tall and is no stranger to sports.  Her mother is Pamela McGee, former WNBA star who was inducted in the 2012 Hall of Fame and her brother Javel McGee is a three-time NBA Champion.  McGee-Stafford is also a writer, poet and mental health advocate with a strong focus on supporting abuse survivors and helping to build confidence in young girls. 

She will be discovering Ghana for the first time which means her trip will include exploring the culture, history and heritage of the nation.  It’s a lifetime opportunity and a chance to truly connect with the motherland.  McGee-Stafford took to her Instagram page to announce her excitement about being in Ghana saying, “The motherland treating me well ya’ll.” She has already visited the Asenema Falls in the rainforest of the Akuapem Hills and is looking forward to seeing more of Ghana.

 The athlete is being hosted by the Impact Youth Foundation who are a sports development NGO in Ghana focused on using the game of basketball to mentor young people and help them reach their potential in education and leadership. The organization is especially interested in developing the skills of young women and girls and underprivileged youth. 

  The work she is doing in helping develop youth in Ghana, is an exemplary way that the diaspora community has been giving back to Ghana. It’s one of the key pillars in the Beyond the Return initiative to encourage finding ways to serve while making a long-lasting impact. She’ll be visiting a basketball camp in the Volta Region and helping to launch the ‘She Shines Project’ at Ghana International School designed to help develop girls in the game of basketball. She’ll also be travelling to Kumasi and conducting the She Shines Basketball Clinic there for young girls.

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A post shared by Imani McGee-Stafford (@imanitrishawn)

By Ivy Prosper

Beyond the Return is excited to participate in Africa Day Fest, an audio experience on Clubhouse by AfricaNxt that celebrates the continent of Africa. This event will be on Africa Day, May 25, 2021. There will be several topics of conversation as part of the festival including African Women in Technology 2021, The Nigerian Dream Abroad, African Fashion, Shifting Culture and so much more.

‘Ghana’s Beyond the Return Initiative’ will take place from 7pm – 8:30pm GMT (3pm – 4:30pm EDT) on that day. Panelists in the conversation are Annabelle McKenzie, Beyond the Return Director & Manager, Del Titus Bawuah, Entrepreneur in Tech, Sustainability & Social Impact Initiatives, Dentaa Amoateng MBE, President GUBA Foundation and Diallo Sumbry, CEO/Founder The Adinkra Group and First African American Tourism Ambassador to Ghana.

Africa Day is the perfect time to engage in this and other important conversations that are important to both continental Africans and those in the diaspora communities. Africa Day is a special day for the continent as we celebrate freedom and independence. The holiday commemorates the launch of the Organization of African Unity on May 25, 1963. Today it’s officially known as the African Union.

As part of the annual celebration, African countries have events that recognize the continent’s thought leaders, activists, creatives and innovators who continue to be the force that shifts the narrative of Africa.

Ghana’s Beyond the Return is a ‘Decade of African Renaissance’ and it’s a 10-year project that is a follow up to the success of the ‘Year of Return’ campaign in 2019. With so much interest in the campaign, this conversation on Clubhouse will cover some of the questions many in the diaspora have of how they can also be a part of this campaign in helping to make a difference in Ghana and Africa overall.

Visit www.africanxt.com for more info on how to join on Clubhouse .

On May 15, 2021, United Airlines resumed operations to Ghana with an inaugural direct flight to Accra.  U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie Sullivan welcomed the airline at the press briefing held at Kotoka International Airport.  “I’m pleased to personally welcome United Flight 996’s inaugural flight from Dulles International Airport in Virginia to Kotoka International Airport in Accra.  Let’s all wish United Airlines a warm, and I do mean warm,  “Akwaaba” to Ghana,” she said.

The flight was welcomed with fanfare in true Ghanaian style as a traditional dancer performed the Adowa Dance on a red carpet.  Those in attendance for this inaugural flight included Amin Abdul Rahman, who represented the Hon. Minister of Transportation Kweku Ofori Asiamah, Ghana Airports Managing Director Yaw Kwakwa, United Airlines VP of International Network Alliances, Patrick Quayle, CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and other dignitaries.  

In a speech read on behalf of Hon, Minister Asiamah, he said, “We are thankful for the bold decision of United Airlines to return to the shores of Ghana at such a difficult time in the global aviation industry and for choosing Kotoka International Airport to once again promote closer ties between the two countries, giving us a second direct entry point into the U.S.”  The airline, which previously ended its operations to Ghana in 2012, will resume with three flights a week on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Ambassador Sullivan closed her speech by saying, “As we welcome United Airlines back to Ghana, I am reminded that ‘the path to a friend’s home is never far.’  Indeed, we are shortening the path between our two friendly countries, reuniting Ghana with the United States and vice versa.”

Diallo Sumbry is the CEO of The Adinkra Group and Ghana’s first African American Tourism Ambassador. This month he releases his book, ‘A Smart Ghana Repatriation Guide’ on May 19, 2021. The book promises help simplify the process of moving to Ghana and gives an in-depth look on doing business and repatriation. It’s a candid look at the ups and downs as well as the opportunities for success in the country. He leaves no stone unturned in the book which includes contributions from others who have also repatriated to Ghana.

Sumbry first stepped on the continent of Africa in 1988. His first trip was to Senegal and he hasn’t looked back since. His journey to discovering and exploring more of the continent has also taken him to Mali, Morocco, Guinea, the Gambia, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Ghana. He’s been doing this long before the ‘Year of Return’ in 2019 when thousands of people of African descent made the trip to Ghana. Sumbry played a key role in the ‘Year of Return’ campaign that marked the 400-year anniversary of the first documented ship of enslaved Africans to arrive in Virginia, USA.

His company, the Adinkra Group, has been responsible for bringing people of African descent to Ghana through what he calls, the ‘Birthright Journey’. He creates curated cultural experiences that are meant for people who have been yearning to make that trip to the motherland.

He has spent several years in Ghana giving back to communities, working on business projects and getting to know the landscape of the country at the ground level. ‘A Smart Ghana Repatriation Guide’ is an honest blend of personal experiences, lessons, and practical tips that provide a timely contribution to the “Back to Africa” renaissance sparked by the Year of Return and now with its decade-long Beyond the Return campaign.

Sumbry says that his book offers a virtual experience as you read each chapter and use the scannable QR codes that are embedded in the text of the book. He wanted to do this so that the book can come to life in a new and inspiring way.

Pre-orders of the book are available until May 16th and the official release date is May 19th.

Click here to purchase a copy of the book

Visit the website www.theadinkragroup.com to purchase or more info.

Ghana’s film industry has just been given the opportunity to have its films seen all over the world.  The National Film Authority announced a new partnership with Indie Rights, a Los Angeles-based distribution company.  Indie Rights has partnerships with some of the world’s leading digital platforms including Amazon, Google, Apple TV, and TubiTV. 

With partnerships like these, Ghanaian filmmakers stand an opportunity to share their stories with new audiences that otherwise may have never seen their work. Industry players have been working diligently for several years and are now seeing the fruits of their labour.  As international audiences are beginning to show more interest in African content, it is more important than ever to have these strategic partnerships that will foster the growth of the film industry in Ghana.

Up until recently, once a filmmaker completed a project, they often entered highly competitive film festivals to be seen in international markets.  Even with that, there were never any guarantees that their work would be seen or distributed after screenings at some of these festivals.  “Distribution remains a big gap on the African continent and without adequate distribution, filmmakers struggle to make the adequate return on investment for those who invest in their films,” said the CEO of the National Film Authority, Juliet Yaa Asantewa Asante. “It is for this reason that distribution remains one of the key [areas of] focus of the National Film Authority.  As the CEO of the NFA this is way at the top of my agenda, and it is the reason why we are constantly pursuing distribution opportunities for Ghanaian filmmakers and it is for this reason that we are happy to announce our partnership with Indie Rights Movies.”

This announcement comes after the launch of the Presidential Film Pitch series by H.E. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, which took place on 28^th April at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra.  The Presidential Film Pitch series is a program that helps to build the value chain of the film sector by creating a marketplace for filmmakers to present their projects and pitch to potential investors, sponsors, agents, and distributors.  

The National Film Authority is a government agency that was created to help regulate and streamline the ecosystem of the film industry in Ghana.  This week’s announcement is the beginning of a new chapter in Ghana’s film industry and provides hope for future filmmakers.

By: Ivy Prosper