Diasporans share thoughts on tourism promotion 

By:   SAMUEL NUAMAH & TABITHA DANQUAH

A MEDIA dialogue with a group of African Diasporans has been held in Accra, under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan Relations.

The Ministry said it provided the platform for the diasporans to share their experiences and feelings on their visit to Africa.

Speaking at the function Maurice Donovan Junior from Virginia Islands in the U.S., said that in the country’s quest to promote tourism development and investment, conscious efforts must be made to involve the indigenes.

“That would prevent the creation of a society of the haves and the have nots,” he said and stressed the need to ensure that the entire community grows along any such ventures.

Touching on the ‘Joseph Project’ of the Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Donovan stated that it was a concrete initiative by the country to connect Africans in the diaspora to their roots and commended the government for embarking on the project.

The ‘Joseph Project;, which was launched recently, is the code name for a series of activities, actions and interactions being spearheaded by Ghana to re-establish the African continent as one nation of all Africans capable of delivering on the Promise of God to African people.

It recognizes that while it is true that there are far too many Africans held down by the legacy of their chains, it is also true that there are many, like the Biblical Joseph, who have risen above their captivity and are shining examples of the best of the human spirit and of what man can achieve in every walk of life.

Another diasporan, Michelle Jones Galvin, great great grand niece of Harriet Tubman, who aided hundreds of slaves to escape to freedom, stated that “it’s one thing to know that we have African roots and another to feel that we have African roots”.

Ms. Galvin who lives in New York, expressed delight in visiting the country where she believes she has roots, and underscored the importance of promoting a one African family.

In response to a question, she said even though racism still exists in the USA, the whites are beginning to realize that they cannot hide from the problem. One of the ways of helping African Americans is by instilling in them the value of education and spirituality, she added.