In 2019, Ghana began a program called "The Year of Return." It marked 400 years since the first enslaved Africans were taken from their shores. It was a way to reconnect with and celebrate people of the diaspora.
The program also had financial incentives to both parties.
Ghana needed The Year of Return to boost tourism. In 2018, tourism was the fourth-ranked contributor to the nation's GDP. Now, tourism adds about 10% of the country's economy. The country saw records shattering, with requests to enter the country increasing by 900%.
Black Americans benefitted, too. Ghana's Right to Abode law allows anyone of African ancestry to stay in the country indefinitely! There are ample business opportunities, and the government is willing to help with visas, work papers, and citizenship.
We are often the victims of injustice or hate in this country which can make it feel like we have no other recourse. But countries in Africa beyond Ghana not only want us to return, they also offer ways of growth beyond what we have known here.