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By Aria Brent, AFRO Employees Author, abrent@afro.com
Ghana declared 2019 the 12 months of Return and invited individuals of African descent all through the world to have fun the collective resistance of those that suffered by way of the transatlantic slave commerce.
The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) created the 12 months of Return to construct extra traction round Ghana as a key journey vacation spot for African People and folks of the African Diaspora. In response to TheAfricanReport.com, roughly 1.13 million individuals visited Ghana in 2019 following the announcement of the motion. Ghana’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo, additionally granted citizenship to individuals of the African diaspora keen to maneuver to the nation.
“Black and Brown individuals, we proceed to be marginalized,” acknowledged Rhea Roper Nedd, Ph.D., who works to broaden range within the Baltimore County space. “We proceed to be underrepresented in society as an entire. Racially and ethnically in academic areas and in skilled areas. It was crucial for me to discover a nation wherein the scholars will not be [marginalized] as they enter, particularly the scholars of shade.“
Nedd has a background in range, fairness and inclusion and has been internet hosting and curating an annual journey for her college students to go to Ghana since 2016. Nedd defined that she started to take college students to Ghana to diversify their choices for finding out overseas and to offer Black and Brown college students the chance to journey someplace that doesn’t make them really feel unseen.
Nedd shared among the actions that she and her college students participated in throughout their journey. She defined that getting the possibility to not solely expertise however find out about Ghanaian tradition is an important a part of the journey.
“We take a category on the College of Ghana, which is in East Legon. We’ve got a workshop on African dance and African drumming,” defined Nedd. “[We learn about] the symbolism of the drums, the symbolism of the function of the drums and the way it’s that varied communities communicated for lengthy distances with one another by way of drumming.”
Along with the nice and cozy hospitality, Ghana’s ever rising economic system appears to be attracting extra vacationers and even new residents.
Zik and his spouse Jerri visited Ghana in 1973 as part of their six-week honeymoon to West Africa. The couple has been wanting to maneuver to Ghana for some time and the 12 months of Return additional motivated them to maneuver.
“We’ve been contemplating [moving] for a few years and the time is correct to return to the motherland,” mentioned Zik Stewart.”There’s a terrific want again there however there’s a terrific alternative as properly. We within the diaspora, we carry loads to the motherland.”
Jerri Stewart added that “the individuals from Ghana are so heat and welcoming, they’re identified for his or her hospitality.”
The Stewarts and Nedd acknowledge that Ghana is a nation that’s properly established all of the whereas having a lot room for additional growth and progress. Serving to the individuals of Ghana and giving again to the native communities is a significant a part of their agendas.
“We’re trying to make a change, a contribution if you’ll to the nation of Ghana and the continent of Africa. Ghana is barely 66-years-old, and so far as nation constructing goes, they’ve obtained the land and the individuals, and people of us from [the] diaspora carry capital and ability,” defined Zik Stewart.
Partnering with native organizations to offer service for the individuals of Ghana is without doubt one of the foremost functions for the journey Nedd and her college students make. She shared the service initiatives not being directed by them as college students however the individuals of Ghana is one thing they’re at all times aware of.
“There’s a lot service that may happen,” shared Nedd. “I used to be in a position to establish varied partnerships with communities in Ghana. These relationships are so significant as a result of it’s a relationship that has been developed in order that it’s not directed by a U.S. mindset and the place we, the scholars, are working along with individuals within the communities.”
To study extra concerning the yr of the return and the nation of Ghana, go to yearofreturn.com and Ghanaembassydc.org
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