By Micha Green, AFRO Washington, D.C. Editor, mgreen@afro.com on 10/3/2018

Four centuries ago Africans were taken from the Ghanaian coast and shipped to the Americas, and now 400 years later the country is calling her descendants back home.

At a luncheon on Sept. 28, American and Ghanaian dignitaries, Pan African advocates, spiritual leaders and the President of Ghana His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, launched The Year of Return Ghana 2019.

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) under the Auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture along with the Office of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President, the PANAFEST Foundation and the Adinkra Group of USA hosted the program at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

The goal is to get African Americans to return to Ghana and have a transformative experience of connecting with the continent from which they were taken 400 years ago.

President and CEO of the Adinkra Group, Diallo Sumbry explained that the collaboration with Ghana should “have an impact at least nine generations deep,” and if not, “then we’re making a serious misstep right now,” Sumbry said.  “We have an opportunity.  It takes work, it takes commitment and it takes sacrifice.”

The President of Ghana dedicated “the ceremony to the memory of the prodigal son,” because he was lost and found.  As the leader of Ghana, the President welcomed the lost children of Africa and people of any descent seeking to learn more about the country’s rich history.  He also said he would try to ensure that the acquisition of visas becomes easier.

The President and other dignitaries, like Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wisconsin) and Rep. Sheila Jackson- Lee (D- Texas), mentioned the importance of welcoming people of all races to see the important sites in Ghana.

“I will imagine, that when the return starts, there will not [only] be people who look like me, and in this nation I hope that America will rise to the point where we glorify in each other’s history,” Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-Texas) told the crowd.  The Texas congresswoman rushed to the National Press Club after having been in a Senate Judiciary committee listening to critical testimonies and debates and voting on the decision to do an FBI investigation into Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s sexual harassment allegations.

As someone who studied abroad in Ghana, Jackson-Lee said that those who have the opportunity to return there are bound to have a transformational experience.

“Those who have never been- that if they go- there’ll be a certain coming of age, that will be grander than we’ve ever imagined,” she said.

The congresswoman said the invitation from Ghana to return for a historic and transformational experience makes for a strong union.

“The continent which I honor and Ghana with its amazing history, will be in the forefront of galvanizing and cementing this wonderful relationship between the nation of the United States of America, the people of the United States of America and the great Republican nation of Ghana with this wonderful President and First Lady, who [are] leading us into the 21st and 22nd century.”

Events surrounding The Year of 2019 include the “Bra Fie” Concert hosted by Damien Marley, son of celebrated reggae artist Bob Marley, in January, a Homecoming and Investment Summit in June; Panafest and Emancipation in July, Ghana Carnival in November and Afrochella in December.

In partnership with the Adinkra Group, artists such as The Crossrhodes with Raheem DeVaughn and Wes Felton, the band Black Alley and Farafina Kan will be returning to Accra, Ghana, Feb. 25- March 8, where they’ll perform. Through the Adinkra Group, legendary go-go band Backyard, also returned to Ghana and performed.  As part of Friday’s luncheon program, guests had the opportunity to view the trailer for a film documenting Backyard’s trip to Ghana called “Back2Africa.”

The many celebrations and performances is a means of celebrating “the resilience of the African spirit,” the Minister of Tourism the Honorable Cather Afeku said.

Diallo Sumbry is the U.S. Coordinator for the Year of Return and can be reached at info@yearofreturn.com and (240) 389-4044.

Source: http://afro.com 

Government will ensure that Kantanka automobile is given the same incentives as the other foreign automobile companies in order to enhance their operations, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has disclosed.

According to him, both indigenous and international automobile companies operating in Ghana will have the full and equal backing from government.

Dr. Bawumia made this statement whiles speaking at the Ghana Industrial Summit and Exhibition in Accra on Tuesday.

He announced that another international automobile company, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd, has also expressed interest in setting up an assembly plant in the country

‘We have had discussions for example with our local producers like Kantanka to make sure that whatever incentives we are providing to all companies who are becoming interested in our automobile industry like the Nissans and VWs, are also available to the Kantanka of Ghana so that they can also produce with those same types of incentives,’ the Vice President said.

He explained that the welcoming of automobile companies in Ghana is in line with government’s plans to boost the economy through industrialization.

This, he said, will also have a good impact on the private sector, once the economy is industrialised.

‘We have added the automobile industry into our key initiatives to move the industrial transformation of this country but people were doubting. I tell you we have received a massive response from the private sector after we send the strong signal of industrializing the economy,’ the Vice President added.

Nissan Motor now joins German car manufacturer, Volkswagen and Sinotruck International from China as the international automobile companies looking to assemble plants in the country.

Source: Naijweb.com

After lots of entreaty by the public for Kantanka Automobile Company to manufacture and produce vehicles in which individuals can use for Uber Services in the country, it was quite interesting to find out that people have already started using the Ghana made vehicles built by the Ghanaian company for such services as requested by the public.

Few days ago, Kantanka.net got impressed with one Uber driver, Kofi Boakye Yiadom using one of the Kantanka vehicles branded Amoanimaa for his routine Uber Services.

According to Boakye, he has been using the vehicle over a year now with great performance on the road. He continued, “I have been getting lots of calls from customers around the city who always want a ride with my vehicle. Most of my customers now prefer to call me Kofi Amoanima, he ridiculed”.

To get a drive with Kofi Boakye Yiadom uber services contact 0208900704.

The local car manufacturing company, Kantanka Automobile Ltd has produce locally built vehicles ranging from SUVs, Mini SUVs, Pickups and Saloons with a vision of introducing smaller vehicles ranging from 0.800 CC and 1000 CC to the market by the end of this year or early next year.

Source: Kantanka.net