African Americans in Ghana launch Black History Month 2019

The African American Association of Ghana (AAAG) launched the 2019 Black History
Month on February 9, 2019 at an event attended by government officials and the US
Ambassador to Ghana at the Dr. W.E.B Du Bois Center in Accra.
In search of their roots and ancestral past, a growing number of African Americans are
choosing to stay and adopt the West African country of Ghana as their home. Ghana, then
Gold Coast in the colonial era has a history as one of the Slave Coast during the slave
trade.
The African American Association of Ghana (AAAG) is committed to ensuring that the
integration process of returnees is smooth and it remains a befitting homecoming. It
facilitates the cultural, social, educational and economic integration of African Americans
and other people of African descent returning from the Diaspora into Ghanaian society.

The Black History Month held in February every year is a month to recognize the
challenges and achievements of African Americans.
The US Ambassador, Stephanie S. Sullivan said the chosen theme of the launch “Black
Migration: Exploring our Roots and Beyond” fits well with the Ghanaian president
Akufo-Addos’s launch of 2019 as the “Year of Return”.
She said the US Embassy has had a close relationship with the association for the past 30 years and congratulated the organizers of the event for celebrating the indispensable contribution of African Americans to US history, culture and society.

She said 115 TH US Congress in 2018 passed the “400 Years of African American History Commission Act” to develop and carry out activities throughout the US, and as well to commemorate the 400 th anniversary of the forced arrival of African to Virginia prior to the arrival of the first English settlers in Massachusetts.

President of the Association, Mrs Gail Nikoi expressed her appreciation for the members who turned out for the event and to the US Embassy for its continued support. Members of the association shared their experiences in Ghana during a dialogue session.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Mr Akwasi Agyeman said the celebration was a remembrance of the rich history of African Americans in Ghana and a reflection of the relationship between Ghana’s first President Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Dr W.E. Du Bois. George Padmore and other diasporans.