A Smart Ghana Repatriation Guide by Diallo Sumbry - President and CEO of the Adinkra Group and Ghana’s first African American Tourism Ambassador - is an honest blend of personal experiences, lessons, and practical tips that provide a timely contribution to the “Back to Africa” renaissance sparked by Ghana’s 2019 Year of Return.
With so many African Americans and diasporas looking to visit, plan and relocate, we recognized the need for a comprehensive guide to help people looking to make the step have a smoother transition, manage expectations and avoid some of the pitfalls many encounter due to lack of information or misinformation.
A Smart Ghana Repatriation Guide offers the reader an accompanying virtual experience with each chapter through the use of scannable QR codes imbedded in the text connecting readers to various media and educational content, especially those who have never had boots on the ground.
The book includes 20 chapters and features several guest contributors below, whose unique perspectives lend color, depth and credibility to this most useful resource. It was important to use this opportunity to amplify voices and names we’ve connected with along our journey who you might not otherwise get to meet. Meet them below.
(A-Side)
📖 Our Journey
📖 Defining Your Personal Why
📖 Why Ghana
📖 Demographics: Ghana is a Country
📖 Know Some History (small small)
📖 All Black People Look Alike: Ethnicity & Language
📖 Chop Life: Food & Diet
📖 Health Care: Hospitals & Insurance
📖 Education: Theory & Practice
📖 Managing Your Privilege, Expectations and Relationships
(B-Side)
📖 Honorable & You: The Government
📖 Managing Bands: Finance & Money
📖 Legal Living: Citizenship, Residency & Permits
📖 Dirty Games: Land, Real Estate & Renting
📖 Managing Traffic: Business & Investment
📖 Deeply Rooted: Culture & Art
📖 Endless Enjoyment: Nightlife & Entertainment
📖 Media & Messaging
📖 V8 vs. Everybody: Transportation
📖 Shipping, Moving & Living
Akwasi Agyeman wrote the foreward for A Smart Ghana Repatriation Guide. He is the CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, the lead Public Service Agency in charge of regulating tourism in Ghana through marketing and promotion, licensing and classification of tourism facilities and services, investments, research and development.
Prior to his appointment in January 2017, he was a shareholding partner of Global Media Alliance, a Media Consultancy and broadcasting company.
The Adinkra Group signed an MOU with Ghana Tourism Authority in 2017 and have had a working relationship since which helped to facilitate the Back2Africa Festival and eventually the Year of Return as a co-architect and member of the steering committee.
Akwasi Awua Ababio offers the preface for A Smart Ghana Repatriation Guide. He was appointed in February 2017 as the Director of Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President. He is responsible for overseeing the overall formulation and implementation of the Ghana Diaspora Engagement Policy.
The Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President (DAOOP), was established in February 2017.
The objective behind establishing the office at the Presidency, emphasises the importance the government places on the contributions Ghanaians in the Diaspora make to the economy.
Ghanaians in the Diaspora, serve in building bridges between their country of residence and Ghana by providing market access, sources of expertise, knowledge.
Amma Gyampo is the primary guest contributor in the chapter 📖 Managing Traffic: Business & Investment 📖.
She is a native Ghanaian and the co-founder of the African B2B Entrepreneurship Advisory and Support firm, ScaleUp Africa. She is also an Advisor to several businesses and strategic bodies including Impact Investing Ghana and women-focused incubator, Kumasi Hive.
Amma is a thought leader and convener in the Ghanaian Diaspora Business community, Entrepreneurship, Gender Equality and Economic Empowerment ecosystem having been featured in Forbes, BBC and Entrepreneur.com over the years.
She recently convened and curated one of the most notable Ghana-Diaspora Business events of 2020, IGNITE
Brenda Joyce is also a special guest contributor to the chapter 📖 Managing Traffic: Business & Investment 📖 focusing on gold. Ms. Joyce is an international gemologist, worldwide marketer of precious metals and gems, business development advisor, public affairs expert and Government relations specialist.
In 2003, Miss Joyce was invited to The Republic of Ghana to serve as a Consultant to Ashanti Goldfields Company and also became a consultant to the Ministry of Forestry and Mines. She is Founder/CEO of Allied Mining Ghana, a company committed to Socially Conscious Mining and Development of Indigenous Communities in Ghana. Recently, Miss Joyce has been appointed Head of Beneficiation for Goldridge Holdings, Ltd.
She is a past President of the African American Association of Ghana and has received the Honor of Ghanaian citizenship. Miss Joyce has been granted the sole and exclusive rights to manufacture and market medallion products in partnership with the Government of Ghana, including The Year Of Return 24kt gold medallion.
Gabriel Ammah is our guest contributor in the chapter 📖 Dirty Games: Land, Real Estate & Renting 📖.
Gabriel was born in London and spent a few years of his childhood in Ghana but always knew he would return to make a difference and help change the narrative of his people.
In 2016, after living in London and the United States, Gabriel fulfilled his dream and relocated back to Ghana. He built his first apartment block on his family land in Accra, cementing his love of construction.
He later set up @blackwood_properties services, a real estate company, that would help diasporans relocate back to Ghana.
Gbontwi Anyetei is our special guest contributor in the chapter 📖 Know Some History (small small) 📖.
Gbontwi was born in West Africa spending his infancy in Ghana, Nigeria, Botswana and Zimbabwe before moving to London. He has been a writer for 10+ years.
His first book ‘What Do You Call It?’ was published in 2010 and his second novel ‘Mensah’ in 2017. Currently living in Accra, Ghana he’s produced a few shorts and written extensively for television and a variety of plays including a shortplay that was recorded at @BBC’s 1xtra radio studios.
We’re excited to introduce you to his voice and are blessed to have him as special guest contributor.
Ivy Prosper is our guest contributor in the chapter 📖 Media & Messaging 📖.
Born in Ghana, Ivy spent most of her life living in Canada and a short period in the U.S. while studying radio and television broadcasting. Ivy is a Media Professional with experience as a TV Host, Producer, Writer, and Public Speaker. She is the Author of the book, ‘Your Essential Guide on Moving to Ghana’. Ivy is also a Documentary Film Producer and Fixer.
She is currently the Social Media Manager for the @YearofReturn and @BeyondtheReturn on instagram.
As an advocate for the empowerment of women and girls she has delivered powerful motivational talks to thousands of youth on issues of self-esteem, body image, confidence and career goals.
Shannan Akosua Magee is our special guest contributor to our chapter 📖 Education: Theory & Practice 📖.
She is the founder of Akosua and Associates- an Afro Diasporic travel, repatriation and relocation coaching consultancy based in Accra – Ghana, West Africa. Akosua has provided “boots on the ground” guidance and advice about how best to plan a successful exit from the Americas to Africa for over 17 years. She is well known for starting a support platform called Sisters In Progress of Moving to Ghana, a fb group with over 1000 registered Diasporan women in the process of actively relocating to Ghana.
She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, a Fulbright Scholar, and a licensed K-12 School Superintendent in Massachusetts.
In 2019, Akosua gained her citizenship in Ghana 🇬🇭 🇬🇭 🇬🇭.
Afrikan=Black anti-amerikkkan “Okunini” Ọbádélé Bakari Kambon, Nana Kwame Pɛbi Datɛ I, is our special guest contributor in the chapter 📖 All Black People Look Alike: Ethnicity & Language 📖.
He is a world-renowned master linguist, scholar and the architect of Abibitumi—the oldest and largest Black social education network on the planet. He completed his PhD in Linguistics at the University of Ghana in 2012. In 2017 he became the first non-Ghanaian to become a Traditional Ruler at Akuapem Mampɔn. He is a Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Language, Literature and Drama Section of the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana and is Editor-in-Chief of the Ghana Journal of Linguistics.
He played an instrumental role in 34 Afrikans of the Diaspora receiving Ghanaian citizenship in 2016 and 126 receiving citizenship in 2019.
Danny Damah is our special guest contributor for the chapter 📖 Honorable & You: The Government 📖.
Born in Ghana, raised in India and educated in America, Danny Damah is an award winning film producer, industrialist and accidental technologist. He was a Producer on Beasts of No Nation, the ambassador for international film productions in Ghana and brings in over 22 years of experience in the business of film production, marketing and communication.
His desire to return to his homeland Ghana to offer his skillset and services through his Partnership with Tony Tagoe that could service the high-end needs of the film and television industries in West Africa became a lifelong dream fulfilled. He currently a Director at TDAfrique.com
He holds a number of director and shareholder positions across various companies globally that span industries and is an expert in public private partnership government relations.