Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Barlett, together with the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange, all breeding from Jamaica’s incumbent government have both declared their support to the 2019 ‘Year of Return’, Ghana’s homecoming program intended to bring back home people of African descent to the shores of Ghana, particularly, those born in Ghana, but transported to other parts of the world as a result of the transatlantic slave trade.
In a report by Ghanaweb, Hon. Edmund and Hon. Olivia, applauded the President and the Ghanaian citizens in general for taking on such an initiative to foreground Ghana’s Pan African Legacy dating from the relationship amongst leaders of the Caribbean and Ghana.
In support of the ‘Year of Return’ running program, Hon. Grange disclosed Jamaica’s endorsement with the words, “We will work with Ghana towards a successful year. Jamaica observes the international Decade of People of African Descent and so it is very timely that we work together. As Jamaicans, we are proud to see that our Reggae music will form the soundtrack for the Year of Return.”
Ghana’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Catherine Afeku, also commented, by revealing the measures the country is putting in place to ensure an easy return back home for those in the diaspora. She said, “The ease of Visa acquisition, upgrades of Tourism and hospitality facilities, capacity building are all being tackled through an inter-ministerial committee with anticipated positive results.”
The stage will be set come March 2019 in Ghana for the Jamaica-Ghana Homecoming festival (Jagha) to form part of the activities to commemorate the year of return and celebrate African survival.
In December last year, Ghana witnessed the coming in of Black Hollywood stars with the likes of Boris Kodjoe, Diggy Simmons, Anthony Anderson, Naomi Campbell, Gabby Sidibe and others to mark the 400-year anniversary of the start of slave trade in West Africa. Rumor also has it that pop stars/America’s power couple Beyoncé and Jay-Z, also plan to visit Ghana this year.
