ACCRA, Ghana— In a landmark event, Ghana welcomed 524 members of the African diaspora as new citizens during a ceremony at the Accra International Conference Centre last week. The initiative is part of Ghana’s ongoing efforts to invite Black people around the world to “come home” and reconnect with their African roots.
Among the newly naturalized citizens was Nykisha Madison Keita, a 42-year-old international agricultural business consultant from Germantown, Philadelphia. Overcome with emotion during the ceremony, Keita described the moment as deeply transformative. “I felt so overwhelmed, like a huge weight was lifted off me,” she said, reflecting on her journey from the challenges of life in the U.S. to finding solace in Ghana.
Keita cited Philadelphia’s escalating gun violence, rising cost of living, and systemic racial issues as reasons for her decision to move to Ghana in 2021 with three of her children. She now lives in a spacious home that costs under $400 a month and feels deeply connected to her ancestral homeland. “This is the embodiment of what my ancestors prayed for,” she said.
Keita is part of a wave of African Americans responding to Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo’s call for the diaspora to return to their roots. The campaign began in 2019 with the “Year of Return,” marking 400 years since the first enslaved Africans were taken to the Americas. The initiative has since evolved into a decade-long program called “Beyond the Return,” encouraging members of the diaspora to visit, settle, and invest in Ghana.
During the ceremony, President Akufo-Addo acknowledged Ghana’s historical role in the transatlantic slave trade and emphasized the importance of reconciliation. He described the new citizens as “human bridges connecting us to both sides of the Atlantic.”
The event featured a military band, traditional African attire, and speeches celebrating the significance of the occasion. New citizens waved Ghanaian flags and held certificates affirming their dual citizenship.
While Ghana has become a beacon for African Americans seeking cultural connection and refuge from systemic racism, the country faces its own challenges, including poor infrastructure, power outages, and widespread poverty. Still, many expatriates view these issues as a worthwhile trade-off for the chance to live free of racial discrimination.
The movement has drawn notable figures, including civil rights leader W.E.B. Du Bois and musician Stevie Wonder, who received Ghanaian citizenship earlier this year. For many, the decision to relocate to Ghana is part of a broader “Blaxit” — a term coined to describe Black Americans exiting the U.S. for opportunities abroad.
For Keita, becoming a Ghanaian citizen solidifies her sense of belonging. “I feel affirmed,” she said, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to live in a place where she feels spiritually and culturally at home. As Ghana continues to open its doors to the diaspora, it redefines itself as a global hub for Black heritage and unity.
The ceremony marks a historic moment for Ghana and the African diaspora, as the bond between the two grows stronger.
