Ghana Welcomes African Diaspora: A New Chapter for Black Americans
Ghana’s call to the African diaspora has resonated deeply, with hundreds of Black Americans embracing the opportunity to gain citizenship in the West African nation. For many, it’s a transformative step toward reconnecting with their ancestral roots and finding a sense of belonging.
The “Year of Return” and Its Legacy
In 2019, Ghana launched the “Year of Return” to mark 400 years since the first enslaved Africans were brought to Virginia in 1619. This initiative has since evolved into “Beyond the Return,” aimed at fostering deeper connections with the African diaspora. The program has welcomed hundreds of new citizens, including Black Americans, Canadians, Britons, and Jamaicans.
In November, Ghana hosted its largest citizenship ceremony yet, granting citizenship to 524 members of the diaspora. Among them were Keachia Bowers and her husband Damon Smith, who moved from Florida to Ghana in 2023. They now run a tour business to help others explore or settle in West Africa.
Finding Peace and Security in Ghana
For Bowers, moving to Ghana provided a sense of safety and ease she didn’t experience in the U.S.
“In America, being a Black male with locs who’s very tall for his age, my son is treated like a threat,” Bowers said, referring to her 14-year-old son, Tsadik.
Living in Ghana has alleviated the trauma of systemic racism and police brutality that haunted her family in the United States.
Citizenship as a Symbol of Connection
While Americans face few hurdles in obtaining residency in Ghana, citizenship holds deeper significance. Bowers described it as honoring her ancestors who were forcibly taken from Africa during the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
“That passport, for me, is for them,” she said.
The slave trade’s legacy is a painful but essential part of this journey. Across West Africa, landmarks like Ghana’s “Door of No Return” serve as haunting reminders of the past, yet they also symbolize hope and reconnection for the diaspora.
Building New Lives in Ghana
Like Bowers, Deijha Gordon found her calling in Ghana. After moving from Brooklyn in 2019, she opened Deijha Vu’s Jerk Hut, a food truck offering Jamaican cuisine. Gordon described gaining citizenship as a profound moment.
“It feels good to have a connection to an African country as a Black American. Back in America, we don’t have anything to trace our roots to but Africa,” she said.
The Process and Challenges of Citizenship
Ghana’s citizenship program operates under the 2000 Citizenship Act, which allows presidential concessions for diaspora members. While the process isn’t straightforward, many see the benefits as invaluable. Citizenship also passes to future generations, as seen with the children of Bowers and Smith, who received theirs automatically.
A Growing Movement with Economic Potential
The Ghanaian government emphasizes the economic benefits of attracting the diaspora, including investment opportunities. However, advocates like Festus Owooson of the Migration Advocacy Center believe the real impact is emotional and symbolic.
“It’s something so relieving, which you cannot put value or a price on,” Owooson said.
As President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration, which spearheaded the “Year of Return,” transitions out, the momentum for granting diaspora citizenship shows no signs of slowing. For many, including Bowers, the journey to Ghana represents a fulfillment of long-held dreams and ancestral aspirations.
“I really feel like my father is smiling where he is,” Bowers said. “He’s experiencing this through me.”