Beyond The Return Challenges to the Motherland

By Zochi Young

Let’s not get caught up in the hype. The fantastic marketing of the “Year of Returns” was about alluring the “African diaspora” to come and invest in Ghana particularly and Africa in general. Return Challenges have been overcome.

How are we Inviting the Diaspora?

Unfortunately, the African diaspora, and in particular African Americans are being invited more as a commodity than a lost family member returning home. The exchange of citizenship all through enchanting (long and complicated process) or the right of Abode with a now DNA chaser of which neither addresses sovereignty nor the availability to have a seat at the decision-making table. A partnership instead of merely an investor.

Why Ghana is the best in Africa?

I am willing to give credit where it is due. Ghana has one of the best infrastructures on the continent of Africa that supports and welcomes the diaspora as individuals. What I do not see is a collective envisioning process for diasporas and indigenous African communities to plan, strategize, and create a progressive future together. There is only the single narrow narrative of development – another word for duplication or mimicry of a Eurocentric model that does not serve Ghana or Africa’s immediate and long-term focus. We are operating as fractions instead of one tribe.

Challenges of Returning to Ghana

Return to Ghan Challenges it is not enough to be in Africa or to be of Africa. There must be mutual respect and what each of us brings to the future. Our vision and mission must be inclusive of both parties’ innovative creation where we are not merely investing economically for profit (a Western capitalist approach ) but we must establish and pioneer a sustainable and thriving society equally together. Not merely focusing on one project but an integrative pipeline of solutions to the greater society. Otherwise, we find ourselves in the same maze we (all of us) had hoped to escape.

How to Overcome the Return Challenges

We need to liberate the African collective consciousness. To decolonize our minds and wipe away the cobwebs of conditioning that Western centrist thought dictated our way of being. This is key to the rise and awaken an Afrocentric future. To accomplish that there must be a formal process of education and healing that connects us and forces the unspoken veil to be removed on both sides to support a true integration. (I can elaborate further on a possible indoctrination process) Instead of just implementing the reshuffling of people in the society without a plan and actual collaboration and shared power.

Ghana Diaspora is working hard to invite properly to the diaspora. We also hope that will come in together and our aim.