Ghana Unveils 7 Pillars For Beyond The Return: Here Is What It Means For The Diaspora

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Today, Ghana unveiled the 7 pillars of its Beyond The Return initiative at an event at the National Theatre that was streamed online.

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Being heavily invested in the Ghana/Diaspora space, I watched the program via the Beyond The Return’s Facebook page. The event seamlessly incorporated storytelling through theatre, dance, and documentary with official remarks reflecting on Ghana’s successful Year of Return and in furtherance of its decade long Beyond The Return initiative.

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Beyond The Return is a 10-year initiative of the government of Ghana promote tourism and homecoming of Africans and Ghanaians in the Diaspora and to foster economic relations and investments from the Diaspora in Africa and Ghana.

Watch Ghana’s Minister of Tourism talk about Beyond The Return below:

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7 Pillars of Beyond The Return

The 7 pillars of the Beyond The Return initiative create specific avenues or focus areas for strategic engagement with the African Diaspora.

Here are the 7 pillars that were unveiled at the event as they are listed and explained on the country’s Beyond The Return website:

  1. Experience Ghana

    EXPERIENCE THE CULTURE, WARMTH, AND RHYTHM

    The core of the project is the tourism drive and the invitation to the Global African family to visit and experience Ghana. Underpinning this core will be the introduction of Sankofa and healing journeys and the promotion of December in Ghana as a must-do for the Ghanaian and African Diaspora

  2. INVEST IN GHANA

    DIVERSE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

    Ghana, the fastest growing economy in the world in 2019 is an established business destination for investors with progressive government transparent regulations and a dynamic private sector ready for partnerships.

    This pillar will create special investment programs and ease of doing business for the diaspora. Key activities will be the Diaspora Investment programs, Sankofa Savings accounts, and Diaspora's housing schemes.

  3. DIASPORA PATHWAYS TO GHANA

    EASING YOUR TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

    This pillar will see to the adoption of legal and policy frameworks on visa acquisition (e-visa) and the institution of a diaspora visa. It will facilitate key diaspora pathway programs such as Citizenship programs, Educational and work exchanges, Residence, and work permits.

  4. CELEBRATE GHANA

    DIVERSE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES

    Create a sense of national consciousness anchored on key cultural festivals, media programs, adoption of contemporary festivals unto the national calendar, and promotion of domestic tourism

  5. Brand Ghana

    YOUR REAL HOME

    Promote Ghana as a leading tourism destination and a hub for the African renaissance. Craft a new narrative on Ghana and strategically promote to the world.

  6. GIVE BACK TO GHANA

    SUPPORT GHANA

    Foster a new sense of community service and giving that will create ongoing legacies for the project. Service areas will include tree planting, community clean-ups, adoption of certain community impact projects

  7. PROMOTE PAN AFRICAN HERITAGE & INNOVATION

    ROOTS TOURISM

    This pillar will focus on promoting Pan-African and Ghanaian heritage and developing pilgrimage infrastructure around sites of memory.  Development tourism infrastructure for target sites beyond the highly frequented sites of Cape Coast and Elmina Dungeons such as the Salaga Slave market in the Northern Region, Pikworo Slave camp in the Upper East Region Assin Praso in the Central Region, all of which are essential parts of the history of slavery in Ghana.

So what does this mean for the African Diaspora?

COLLABORATION, COLLABORATION, COLLABORATION & MORE IMPORTANTLY, SUPPORT

The unveiling of these 7 pillars means it is an opportune time to launch/invest in/ plan to move to Ghana if you are a member of the African Diaspora. Given the success of the Year of Return Initiatives and the economic and socio-political capital and of the African Diaspora, especially that of the African American community, the African Diaspora community yields strong influence in Ghana’s tourism policies and engagements.

Simply stated, there are open and willing ears for the African Diaspora, and perhaps more support now than later as the initiative grows old. Reach out to the associated offices if and when you need help with your Ghana/Africa moves and investments.

Reach out for government collaboration and support as well. There are many offices and platforms through which to collaborate, such as the Diaspora Investment Desk.

I also heard mention of a Homeland Act by the Minister of Tourism. This Act will streamline a repatriation process for Africans in the Diaspora. I will share more details on this as soon as I know more. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter if you would like to stay abreast of this.

Finally, please research and plan before you make any moves. Having moved between Ghana and NYC for the last 5 years, I know very well the challenges and opportunities present. My free ebook is a great guide for those looking to get started or who simply want to know more. I also have many insightful resources for Moving & Investing in Ghana here.

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Here is how to save Ghana's economy during COVID-19

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It’s been about a month since I arrived in the US from Ghana. I came for a gig and speaking opportunities that would have allowed me to promote my book about Africa and identity, Should I Return.

Since being stateside, I have been building new skills, reading - just finished Trevor Noah’s amazing book, Born A Crime - , and working on new mediums of content distribution, including building my mailing list and starting my YouTube Channel.

Perhaps the one thing I have been doing most consistently is following developments in Ghana via WhatsApp groups and status updates from friends and family there. A series of status updates that resonated deeply with me this weekend were those from my friend and fellow Ghanaian business consultant, Moses Gbeku, on how Ghana’s government could save Ghana’s economy during this time. Moses leads business development and strategy for many large and medium-sized enterprises in Ghana and across the region. He wrote the following policy recommendations that could potentially save Ghanaian businesses and workers:

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What are your thoughts on Moses’ suggestions? What would you do differently, add, or takeaway?

News out today on the virus in Africa is entirely grim. Headlines read:

“Africa faces a coronavirus catastrophe”

“Coronavirus: “We’ve gone from looming threat to looming disaster””

News articles about the devastating impact of the health and economic impact of COVID-19 abound. Very few provide suggestions, ideas, insights on how to weather this storm, either on a grassroots level or from the top, down. And perhaps none spell out specific steps that could have a direct impact on people’s lives. Suggestions like those by Moses could help.

I am hoping that after the Ghanaian government contains the health situation, there might be more direct economic policy, especially those that positively support the average worker, and even the great numbers of unemployed youth, at this time.

What do you think? What suggestions do you have? In my first Youtube video, I discussed leading in a time of crisis. Sharing thoughtful suggestions from your area of expertise at this time could be one of the ways in which you do so.

Feel free to leave your comments below. Happy to read and chat.