The president of Ahaspora, Christabel Dadzie, and the president of African American Association of Ghana (AAAG), Gail Nikoi have examined Ghana’s preparedness for this year’s ‘Year of Return’.
Speaking on DNT’s Diaspora Weekly with Jermiane Nkrumah, Miss Dadzie and Nikoi shared sentiments about the year-long event, which extends an open invitation to Africans world wide to return home to the motherland after 400 years since the enslaved Africans were forcefully sent to the western hemisphere.
Miss Dadzie described the ‘Year of Return’ as an amazing thing for Ghanaians in the Diaspora, giving them the chance to experience the country. “It speaks to why we exist”, she said. Adding that, it is on us, to “support the returnees’ experience”
She also spoke on its importance for Ghana’s tourism, and how it connects people.
“The year of Return is amazing on different levels, opening Ghana up for the tourism that we have so much, and also allowing people to meet”, she said. She also added that, having people to come and experience the country and test it out is most definitely an “amazing experience”.
The president of AAAG Miss Nikoi also described the ‘Year of Return’ as a “spiritual component”. She talked about how significant it is for African Americans because, they mostly don’t know their roots so coming to the motherland lets them know there is a place they can call home and feel a part of.
“The year of return is a spiritual component…. African Americans don’t know our roots, we have no place to identify as a home. So when they come and experience home, it is always amazing for them”, she explained.
“What I love about it (Year of return) is, it is creating awareness for Africans throughout the world to understand that, there is a place for you to come home to, to identify with and to feel a part of”, she added.
Watch their full interview in the video below.
