In a moving celebration of heritage and unity, twenty-two African Americans who traced their ancestry to Ghana have officially embraced their Ghanaian identities, marking a powerful reconnection with their roots.
The group pledged to contribute to Ghana’s development in areas such as renewable energy, recycling, entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment — all in honor of their ancestors.
The delegation, facilitated by Hausa Tours, met with the Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, in Koforidua, where they expressed their commitment to invest their expertise and knowledge in various community-driven initiatives.
Amber Blackwell from California said she was passionate about promoting sustainable practices in Ghana.
“I’m looking forward to helping train the youth in recycling and upcycling — turning what’s often seen as waste into useful everyday products that can benefit Ghanaians,” she told reporters.
Similarly, Dr. Ambrose Frederick Carroll Sr., Senior Pastor of the Renewal Worship Center in Oakland, California — one of the first eco-friendly “Green Churches” in the United States — outlined his desire to help advance Ghana’s energy transition through the installation of solar panels and electric vehicle charging points.
“We’re training people in solar installation, maintenance, and electric vehicle technology so that communities can build resilience during storms or floods while creating local jobs,” he explained.
Welcoming the group, Minister Awatey praised their initiative and highlighted the government’s readiness to partner with them for mutual benefit.
“One of our biggest challenges is unemployment, which drives many young people into illegal mining. Investments like these can create jobs and transform lives,” she said.
The highlight of the visit was an emotional traditional naming ceremony held at the Yiadom Hwedie Royal Palace in New Juaben, presided over by Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III, Paramount Chief of New Juaben.
During the ceremony, the returnees underwent traditional rites — sipping water and palm wine to symbolize sincerity and truth — before receiving Ghanaian names and being integrated into various royal families and clans. Each received a certificate and traditional beads as tokens of their new identity.
Among those renamed were Curtis Junior Lee (Yaw Frempong), Amber Blackwell (Akua Agyeiwaa), Mary Y. Puryear (Akua Serwaa Bonsu), and Dr. Ambrose Frederick Carroll (Kwesi Debrah).
In a significant announcement, Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III revealed plans to establish a Diasporan Village in New Juaben, envisioned as a permanent home and community for returnees seeking to reconnect with their ancestral land.
“This village will stand as a symbol of belonging and a bridge between our brothers and sisters in the diaspora and their Ghanaian families,” he said.
Rev. Hodari Williams, leader of the New Life Presbyterian Church in Atlanta — himself named a prince of New Juaben during a previous visit — expressed deep gratitude for the homecoming experience.
“We are honored by this reconnection. It strengthens our resolve to contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s growth,” he noted.
Regina Aku Dzamashie, Head of Finance and Administration at Hausa Tours, emphasized the importance of preparing local traditional authorities to engage meaningfully with diasporan initiatives for lasting community development.
The visit will conclude with a solemn pilgrimage to Ghana’s slave forts and castles, where the group will pay tribute to their ancestors who were forcibly taken from the continent centuries ago.
The symbolic homecoming forms part of Ghana’s broader “Beyond the Return” agenda — a continuation of the 2019 “Year of Return” initiative — which invites the African diaspora to reconnect, invest, and participate in nation-building.
Source: kumasimail.com
