The Government of Ghana in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture have unveiled plans on developing a homeland return legislation to facilitate various forms of migration and integration for diaspora kin and kingpin.
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Honorable Barbara Oteng-Gyasi made this known on Wednesday, 9th September, 2020, as she delivered her speech on Beyond the Return: Unveiling of Pillars launch at the National Theatre.
“The diaspora have embraced what we have done with the Year of Return, commemorating the 400 years anniversary. It is in synergy with the Year of Return therefore that we have initiated the Beyond the Year of Return spanning a ten year period 2020- 2030 to consolidate the gains made in 2019..…….it is therefore in this light that Ghana is currently developing a homeland return legislation to facilitate various forms of migration and integration into the country for diaspora kin and kingpin. Ghana as the leader of pan-Africanism through the homeland act will offer opportunity for citizenship to “our brothers and sisters”. They will be embraced for the positive values they embody and they will be equal part of our community”
According to Honorable Oteng-Gyasi, Beyond the Return is a 10-year project under the theme, “A decade of African Renaissance – 2020-2030” and will be built on 7 pillars. The initiative is a mutually beneficiary co-operation with the African diaspora community.
At the start of the year, plans to jumpstart Beyond the Return were impeded due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic. Participation in the New York Travel Show and the Memphis May Show of which Ghana was to be featured as a honored country were cancelled due to the pandemic.
The Tourism and Hospitality industry is one of the many sectors of the economy which has been hit hard by the pandemic.
United Nations World Community Organization (UNWCO) reports that the potential impact shows that there would be 850million – 1.1billion fewer international tourist arrival; 910billion- 1.2trillion dollars lost in export revenues from tourism and 100 – 120 million direct tourism jobs been at risk.
Honorable Barbara Oteng-Gyasi revealed that despite all the Covid-19 hindrance, diasporas abroad have still expressed interest in returning to Africa especially Ghana and the government is willing to accommodate them.
“We are ready to welcome you and to provide the most positive experience. As you make the decision to connect with Ghana through travel, investment, community service, business collaboration and repatriation”
Beyond the Return is a successive initiative to the 2019 Year of Return program. It is an initiative that will serve to strengthen ties with our global African diaspora.
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Story by: Nana Abena Grant | universnewsroom.com
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