History was made yesterday as Viola Fletcher, 108 and her brother Hughes Van Ellis, 102, were granted Ghanian citizenship in a private ceremony at the Embassy of Ghana in Washington DC. The siblings held on to Ghana flags during the ceremony while wearing matching traditional Ghanaian printed garments in a golden and burgundy colour. A cultural troop performed traditional music and dance which brought smiles to their faces. The ceremony was organized by Ghana’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Ministry of Interior, the Ghana Tourism Authority, Beyond the Return, Diaspora African Forum, the Diaspora Affairs Office of the President and the Embassy of Ghana in DC.

The siblings came to Ghana for the first time in 2021, marking the 100th anniversary of the massacre that destroyed the all-Black neighborhood in Tulsa known as Greenwood on May 31, 1921. It was a community that was thriving and had one of the wealthiest Black communities in the United States. Fletcher was 7 years old and Ellis was an infant when the massacre happened. The Greenwood neighbourhood was destroyed leaving the people to pick up the pieces and start over. Since then, their story has been one of resilience and survival.

On their trip to Ghana, Fletcher said she was fulfilling a lifelong dream to visit Africa before she sees God. They were given the opportunity to meet the president of Ghana H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo. It was during that meeting that he made the decision to confer Ghanaian citizenship and offer a piece of land for them. The gesture is one that aligned with the ‘Year of Return’ 2019 campaign launched by the president to mark the 400-year anniversary of the first documented ship of enslaved Africans to arrive in the U.S. The campaign invited the global African diaspora to visit Ghana and experience the history, heritage and culture.

Ghana’s Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture, Ibrahim Awal, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman, Director of the Beyond the Return Secretariat, Annabelle McKenzie, Paramount King of the Igbo community in Ghana, Eze Dr. Chukwudi Ihenetu, Founder and Head of Missions at Diaspora African Forum, Ambassador Erika Bennett Grammy-nominated artist Rocky Dawuni, and Hollywood actress, A.J. Akua Johnson were among those in attendance to this special event.

Story by: Ivy Prosper

“Our people on the whole, have been so unaccepted around the world and to come to Ghana and have the government of Ghana, the citizens of Ghana, the people of Ghana open their arms to us and tell us, you belong…this is your right…it’s a blessing,” said Baba Ra El, an African American who moved to Ghana over eight years ago. He said that becoming a Ghanaian citizen was, “An exhilarating feeling, a feeling beyond words.” 

On the morning of Thursday December 22, 2022 the Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President, organised the citizenship ceremony in partnership with the Ministry of Interior, Migration Unit. Also in partnership were the Ghana Immigration Services, Ghana Tourism Authority and the Beyond the Return Secretariat, who have been engaging with the diaspora since 2019 when the Year of Return invited the diaspora to come home.  There were 126 people of the African diaspora being sworn in that day.  “In the spirit and in the continuation of the Year of Return and Beyond the Return this occasion is significant,” said Akwasi Awua Ababio, Director of Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President. In 2019, during the Year of Return the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo also granted citizenship to those from the diaspora living in Ghana. That moment solidified the hope the historical diaspora has in making the African continent home.  

“We want everyone to know that what began in the Year of Return is very much alive,” Ababio said. “There are several other African countries they could have chosen to move to, but they chose Ghana, and we are grateful for that.

Matilda Ribeiro, Second Court Judge, presided over the official swearing in of new citizens of Ghana.  Each of them shared an unimaginable sense of joy that they were now becoming true sons and daughters of the soil.  Some have lived in Ghana for many years and dreamed of this day coming to fruition.  This prophetic destiny was given to us,” said Dr. Toni Luck, who did the opening prayer and also was a recipient of citizenship.  “The African taken over ten thousand miles over treacherous waters, that promise of God to Abraham and his descendants was given to us.” 

Ababio, spoke about the Homeland Return Act, which is currently in parliament, and would be the key to supporting more people from the diaspora gaining the path to citizenship quicker and with less challenges.  He implored the Migration Unit to prioritize the Homeland Return Act in order to better support the diaspora who are looking to become citizens of Ghana with ease.  “I look forward to the Homeland Act has been enacted,” Ababio said.  It will play a central role in facilitating the process when the diaspora moves to Ghana and seek ways to become citizens.

Notable people in attendance and participants in the official ceremony included Minister of Interior, Ambrose Dery, Chief of Mission of the International Organisation for Migration, Ms. Fatou Dialo, Director of Migration Unit, Dominic A. Agyemang, Chief Director of the Ministry of the Interior, Adelaide Anno-Kumi, Comptroller General of Immigration, Kwame Asuah Takyi, Deputy Director, Diaspora Affairs, Nadia Adongo Musah, CEO, the Ghana Tourism Authority, Akwasi Agyeman, Head of Missions, Diaspora African Forum, Ambassador Erieka Bennett and Director of the Beyond the Return Secretariat, Annabelle McKenzie.

Story by: Ivy Prosper