The Black History Festival, a special initiative dedicated to the celebration of the strong ties between Governments of the United States of America and the African Union member states over the years has been officially launched on 16th December 2022 at the Africa Trade House in Accra, Ghana.
Speaking at the Ceremony, the Coordinator of the Black History Festival, Mr. Stephen Selasie Asuo reiterated that it became necessary for the Bureau for International Development, Exchanges and Commerce (BIDEC) to facilitate the promotion of exchange ideas, businesses, and culture amongst other innovations to the Diaspora, to foster sustainable partnership for positive development in Ghana and the African continent. This he believes will boost investor confidence in the continent and reduce unemployment in the sub-region.
The Chairman of the parliamentary select committee on Trade, Industry, and Tourism, Hon. Carlos Ahenkorah in a remark said, ‘’ the US continues to see Ghana as a beacon of hope in Africa because of our continued diplomatic relationship in the area of business, etc though Ghana exports minimal products to the states.”
He noted that the Black History Festival is a good platform to showcase made in Ghana to the world and he urged the organizers of the BHF, to lead change in exposing a lot more innovations in Ghana other than the usual products that are being exhibited all the time. This he said will attract a lot more people from the diaspora.
Head of Diaspora at the Office of the President, Mr. Kwasi Awuah on his part said, serving as the chairman for the Year of Return project, he believes there’s a lot of potential with our brothers and sisters in the diaspora to play a key role alongside their Ghanaian counterparts for economic transformation therefore this project is timely to explore such potentials.
In a statement by the Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah Adjei, she said ‘’we need to be proud of what we have and to patronize made in Ghana, that’s the only way we can support the private sector in creating a lot more innovative opportunities for young people.”
CEO of EIB Network, Mr. Nathaniel Adisi popularly known as Bola Ray noted that Ghana has a bank of creative ideas that can be projected for revenue for the country, therefore, calling on all stakeholders in the creative industry to find a way to create an enabling environment to intentionally market what we have to the Diaspora.
Chief of Banda Ahenkro, Dr. Kofi Anyan has pledged to lease lands to individuals from the Diaspora hoping to invest in the area of Agriculture and other useful ventures. This he feels should be replicated by all traditional heads in the country
The second edition of BHF will be held in Columbus Ohio, USA from 15th to 18th February 2023 and It is a unique chance for stakeholders to have a common platform to commemorate the heritage, arts, culture, trade, leadership and innovation of Africa in the history of the United States of America.
