In an effort to combat climate change and environmental degradation, the Ghana Tourism Authority and the Beyond the Return Secretariat teamed up with the Asebu Traditional Council for a tree planting exercise as part of Green Ghana Day. This initiative, established by the Ghana Government, aims to counteract the loss of trees due to climate change and human activity. The event took place at the Asebu Pan-African Village in the Central Region, also involving participation from the diaspora community.

Charles Kwaku Buabin, the Central Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority, welcomed attendees to the community and highlighted the initiative’s alignment with the Give Back Ghana Pillar of the Beyond the Return Secretariat. He shared ambitious plans to plant over 500 trees in the community as part of Green Ghana Day.

Director of the Beyond the Return Secretariat, Annabelle McKenzie, expressed gratitude for the turnout at this important event. “As we know it’s very important to save our environment and make sure Ghana is a green place,” she said. “We decided as the Beyond the Return Secretariat and Ghana Tourism Authority to partner with our brothers and sisters in the Pan-African Village to have Green Ghana Day here.” McKenzie also emphasized the widespread tree planting efforts across the country to support the initiative.

Rabbi Kohain Halevi, Head of the Diaspora Coalition, passionately stated, “The earth is our mother and it has been raped and pillaged and robbed for so long, and if we don’t give back, we will be part of that destruction.” He stressed humanity’s duty to care for the earth, warning that negligence could leave future generations with nothing.

Traditional leaders present included the Dabeahen of the Asebu Traditional Council, Nana Oweredu, on behalf of the president of the Asebu Traditional Council, Professor Okatakyi Amenfi, and the Chief of Moree Alata, Nana Amenyi IV.

Mary Obeng, representing the Ghana Forestry Commission, ensured the availability of various plants and trees such as coconut trees, royal palms, and umbrella plants for the event. She explained, “Green Ghana Day was initiated by the president of Ghana for the purpose of forestation and reclaiming our degraded landscape and also to contribute to the global efforts of mitigating [the effects of] climate change.”

Nana Gye Nyame I, president of the Pan African Village Plot Association, expressed his pleasure that their community was chosen to participate in this nationwide initiative. He highlighted the importance of such activities for the betterment of society and the value of trees to provide oxygen for better living.

The Beyond the Return initiative is a 10-year program with the theme ‘A Decade of African Renaissance’. Under the Ghana Tourism Authority, it focuses on seven foundational pillars that support ongoing engagement with the diaspora, local Ghanaians, and continental Africans. The Green Ghana Day activities resonate with the ‘Give Back Ghana’ pillar, encouraging the diaspora to engage in activities that contribute positively to the community and the broader society of Ghana.

In a major announcement at the World Economic Forum, International advocacy organization Global Citizen, creative imprint pgLang, and the Presidents of Ghana and Rwanda revealed that Accra, Ghana, is set to join Kigali as a host city for this year’s Move Afrika: A Global Citizen Experience tour. The initiative aims to pioneer an unprecedented international music touring circuit across Africa, promoting economic investment, job creation, and supporting entrepreneurship opportunities in each host country, with pgLang serving as the tour’s curator.

Following the resounding success of last month’s inaugural Move Afrika: Rwanda, headlined by Grammy Award, Pulitzer Prize-winning artist, Kendrick Lamar, the second leg of the tour promises to bring another wave of transformative impact. The Rwandan event, created by Global Citizen and pgLang in collaboration with the Rwanda Development Board, employed over 1,000 locals, engaging 75 percent of the crew and production staff locally. Kendrick Lamar’s headline performance was accompanied by a stellar lineup including Zuchu, Bruce Melodie, DJ TOXXYK, Sherrie Silver, Ariel Wayz, Kivumbi King, and Bruce The 1st.

The Move Afrika initiative is not new to Ghana, having previously hosted the Global Citizen Festival: Accra in 2022. The festival’s post-event analysis demonstrated a significant social and economic impact, injecting over $15 million into the economy through production spending, hotels, transport, advertising, and security. Moreover, the festival attracted over 5,000 international visitors, employed more than 1,000 Ghanaians, and spurred a surge in hotel occupancy to 75 percent. Global citizens worldwide took over 2 million actions as part of advocacy efforts to End Extreme Poverty NOW during the festival.

Move Afrika: Ghana is a continuation of Global Citizen’s commitment to leverage live music events for social and economic impact. The tour’s expansion to Accra aligns with its broader goal to revolutionize live entertainment in Africa, investing in local economies, skill training, and youth entrepreneurship. Each year, additional countries will be added to the Move Afrika tour schedule, aiming to reach three countries in 2024 and five countries by 2025.

H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana, expressed excitement about Global Citizen’s return to Ghana and the transformative potential of Move Afrika. He highlighted the organization’s reputation for leveraging live music events to engage youth and create social and economic impact. President Akufo-Addo anticipates continued impact in the years ahead and celebrates this milestone for Ghana.

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda congratulated President Akufo-Addo for partnering with Move Afrika, reminiscing about the success of the inaugural Move Afrika concert in Rwanda. Kagame emphasized the importance of mentorship and support for African talent, acknowledging Global Citizen’s commitment to developing the workforce needed for professional concert tours, leaving a lasting economic legacy for the region.

Kweku Mandela, Chief Vision Officer of Global Citizen, expressed honor in bringing Move Afrika to Ghana and emphasized the showcase of African creative talent to the world. He highlighted the initiative’s potential to generate economic investment into the local creative economy, leaving a lasting impact across the continent.

pgLang, reflecting on their first visit to Accra in 2022, expressed excitement about working with Move Afrika and expanding their efforts to Ghana. The organization sees Accra as a special place and is eager to contribute to the success of Move Afrika: Ghana.

Move Afrika: Ghana builds on the success of previous campaigns and events across the African continent, including the recent Move Afrika: Rwanda. Further details about this year’s Move Afrika: A Global Citizen Experience tour, including event dates and lineups, will be announced in the coming months. For more information, visit moveafrika.org, and stay tuned for updates on this transformative musical journey across Africa.

In an era where technological advancements are shaping the world, it is crucial to ensure that students have access to the necessary tools and resources to develop their computer literacy skills. Sadly there are many schools in Ghana that lack the resources to help them compete on a global scale when it comes to tech. Recognizing this need, Art Care Foundation launched the Tech is the Future Project with the objective of bridging the digital divide among West African students. This ambitious initiative aims to provide students with desktop PCs and comprehensive computer training programs, empowering them to compete on an international level. They partnered with Jack and Jill Brooklyn Chapter on this initiative to provide computers to students at Ebenezer 4 JHS School in Mambrobi. Endorsed by the Ghana Tourism Authority and the Beyond the Return Secretariate, the project is aligned with Beyond the Return’s pillar, ‘Give Back Ghana’ which is focused on giving back to the community.

Stakeholders in the community who were at the commissioning of the new ICT Laboratory included representatives of the city of Accra, members of the clergy and staff from the school.

The primary goal of the Tech is the Future Project is to empower West African students with the digital skills required for success in the 21st century. By equipping students with desktop PCs, the project enables them to gain hands-on experience and familiarity with computer technology. This lays the foundation for computer literacy and ensures that students are well-prepared to excel in the digital age.

The Jack and Jill Brooklyn Chapter helped to launch the ICT Laboratory with several desktop computers that will equip the students to build their digital skills. The new laboratory will be a centre for learning and development of their skills. This project will have a big impact on the students and their community as it prepares them to be more productive members of the workforce once they complete their studies.

The Tech is the Future Project has garnered support from Ivy Prosper, a prominent figure from the Beyond the Return Secretariate. Ivy Prosper, who served as the MC of the event, recognizes the importance of such initiatives in advancing Ghana’s growth and development. The Ghana Tourism Authority and Beyond the Return are proud supporters of the project, as it aligns with their mission to promote opportunities for growth, investment, and cultural exchange.

The Tech is the Future Project is a commendable effort aimed at bridging the digital divide. By providing desktop PCs and integrating computer training into the school curriculum, the project empowers students with the essential digital skills required for success. This project is a testament to the commitment towards nurturing the next generation of tech-savvy individuals and propelling Ghana’s growth in the digital era.

Story by: Ivy Prosper

Titans of Africa is on a quest to promote and develop American Football in Africa. Mohammad Osman Nkosi is the president of Football Operations at Titans of Africa and they officially launched an American Football club in Ghana last month.

Nkosi has partnered with Chadwick Louisville of the West Potomac High School Football team in Virginia, USA to launch the camp.  Louisville has had a successful coaching career having taken teams to international Bowls.  He has strategic plans to push the sport in Ghana using his experience and deep knowledge of the sport.  

African youth have traditionally been interested in playing football (soccer).  It’s perhaps the most popular sport in the world and has been the most accessible to young people in Ghana and across the African continent.  Nkosi believes that when given the opportunity to try a new sport, the young people will give it a try.  He also believes it’s a sport that can embrace people with different physiques unlike football(soccer).  He said, “Soccer is limited to a specific body type while American football is structured in a way to give every body type a position to play.”  

The NFL typically recruits its talent from colleges across the United States, leaving the opportunities for African youth very limited. That’s where this club helps to bridge the gap. There are currently very few players directly from African countries in the league, however Nkosi spoke of the fact that over 50% of the players in the NFL are African Americans (people of African descent).  He believes that Africa has a lot of raw talent. “That’s why Titans of Africa’s mission revolves around bringing all hidden talents to light and making sure the right opportunity reaches deserving hands,” he said.

The new club aligns with one of the pillars of Ghana’s ‘Beyond the Return’ initiative; Give Back Ghana. This pillar is focused on finding opportunities to give back to the community through various programs, activities and events. Titans of Africa has a goal of giving back to Ghanaians through sports, in particular American Football. They believe it teaches a sense of morale, values, teamwork and discipline. All skills that can be transferred from sport to daily life. 
The new American Football club is open to all people between the ages of 13-30. To register, potential players can visit the website at www.thetitansofafrica.com. Alternatively they can send a message via the Instagram page @thetitansofafrica.

By: Ivy Prosper

The Ghana Tourism Authority under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Birthright AFRICA Incorporated today. The organization inspires youth and young adults of African descent between the ages of 13-30 to explore their cultural roots through travel. They also encourage learning ones history in the United States, before they take the journey abroad. Since 2015, Birthright AFRICA has been focused on creating the next generation to become leaders who are proud of their African heritage. They aim to teach young people to stay connected to their African roots while understanding that they have the power to pursue their aspirations and become more innovative while learning about Africa.

Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority said he was very excited about the signing of this MOU. “Since the Year of Return, we’ve seen a lot of our own come back to the continent. Ghana has become a mainstay for that reconnection home.” he said. “So having this partnership with Walla and the team at Birthright AFRICA project, I think is very symbolic. because the ethos of what you are doing sits with what the whole Beyond the Return conversation is.” He continued saying that the Year of Return was for the diaspora to come and visit, see the continent and see Ghana and now with Beyond the Return it’s more about reconnection, investment, diaspora pathways and doing things together.

“Tourism is about travel and travel precedes trade and trade increases the commerce of a people,” said Jidenna, who is on Birthright AFRICA’s Executive Board. “What we’re really doing here is creating, and fostering power. That’s what this is all about. It’s not merely heritage, it’s not merely connections, it’s not merely ‘chillin’ on Labadi Beach’ and hanging out in the sand. It’s power. What is power but the flow of energy between two points. If that is power, then that is what Birthright Africa is doing right now.

The Ghana Tourism Authority under the Ministry of Touirsm , Arts and Culture is signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Birthright Africa Incorporated who has been having Collaborations since 2019 inspiring the youth and young adults of African descent ages 13 to 30 to explore their cultural route and legacy of innovation within the United States of America and select nations in Africa as a Birthright

The Ghana Tourism Authority, Beyond the Return Secretariat and the Forestry Commission came together on Friday June 17th for a tree planting exercise at Achimota Forest to commemorate the Juneteenth holiday (June 19) celebrated in the United States. With a strong diaspora community in Ghana, it was important to acknowledge this holiday because it recognizes the date when all enslaved Africans in the U.S. were officially free; June 19, 1865.

Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President and Ghana Investment Promotion Centre were also in attendance to participate in the planting of trees. Members of the diaspora community gathered and also participated. For some it was symbolic of coming back home to plant a tree in honour of their ancestors.

Kiles World Foundation presents its second annual American football camp in Ghana this weekend.  Ryan M. Glover and his mother Tameka Foster Raymond arrived in Accra this week ahead of the camp, which is on Saturday 21st May from 10am-3pm at the Adjiringanor Wembley Football Park (opposite Pot Belly Shack) in East Legon. Their mission is to focus on sustainable development and secure a future of African youth through sports.  It’s an exciting time as Ghana continues to be a hotspot for raw talent in sports.

“Kiles World Foundation is excited to be back in Ghana for our second annual football camp. We absolutely love it here, it feels like home,” said Ms. Raymond, who is best known for her work as a celebrity fashion stylist and designer.” She founded Kile’s World Foundation in honour of her son, Kile, who lost his life in a tragic jet ski accident in 2012. Kile’s World Foundation celebrates young people who transform their thoughts into action and influence others to do the same.

“We decided to come to Ghana last year essentially as a graduation present for my son Ryan. We specifically chose a West African country, because that is where our familial roots began,”  Ms. Raymond said. They hope to provide a special experience for all who participate this weekend because football is known for bringing people together, teaching the value of teamwork and discipline. “We aim to give the youth a different experience from their normal day to day routine.”

It’s wonderful to see young players like Glover working to support the growth of American football in Africa. Last year, Kile’s World Foundation was successful in Accra and they look forward to what the camp has in store tomorrow. They hope that through sports they can help youth to sustain their participation through growth and development in all aspects of life. Each year more athletes from the African diaspora are recognizing that giving back through sports will create a great impact on developing young minds. “The camp happening tomorrow is the start of the journey of the return,” Ms. Raymond said.

American football has been gaining popularity in the continent of Africa with a growing interest in the sport.  It’s also quickly becoming the place to source raw untapped talent. Earlier this year the NFL announced holding a mid-year training camp in Africa, which is exciting news considering there are already players who have roots in Africa including Daniel Adongo (Kenya), Tamba Hali (Liberia), Ezekiel ‘Ziggy’ Ansah(Ghana) and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (Ghana).

Mohammed Osman Nkosi, President of Football Operations , Titans of Africa,  has been the key to supporting the camp in Ghana.  He has continued to work on sourcing the right collaborations with the diaspora community to make this camp and future activities possible. “Associating Kiel’s World Foundation and Titans of Africa will go a long way to impact not only Ghanaian youth but youth on the entire continent,” he said. Ghana Tourism Authority and the Beyond the Return Secretariat endorsed this as an event that supports the vision of giving back to Ghana while also recognizing the importance of sports in the growth and development of Ghana’s youth for the future.

For more information about the camp contact Mohammad Osman Nkosi via email at mohammed@titansofafrica.com or through Instagram at www.instagram.com/dirdevmoh.

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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By Ivy Prosper