Tourism the World's New Destination
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Tourism The world's new destination TOURISM GHANA Joseph Project Calling all Diasporan Africans The Cape Coast Castle, one of the major slave forts and tourist attractions, will play a huge role in The Joseph Project Diasporan Africans who have yearned for years Millions of Africans were taken from the motherland into slavery in the to return to the motherland but have not been Americas, many of them going through the slave castles dotting the Ghanaian able to do so, can now have no more excuses to coast. Their descendants are part of what we now call the African Diaspora. stay back. An innovative programme launched The Joseph Project is, therefore, Ghana’s invitation to Diasporan Africans to by the Ghanaian government, called The Joseph return to the land of their ancestors. The project was formally launched Project, is all that they need to return home. on 15 February 2007 during a meeting of African tourism ministers in Prince Dennis Klintings reports from Accra. Accra. It is the lead activity in the Akwaaba, Anyemi programme of he Ministry of Tourism the Ghana Ministry of Tourism and and Diasporan Relations Diasporan Relations (MOTDR) aimed (MOTDR) has drawn an at reestablishing the African nation as elaborate plan to establish one for all Africans – whether living at Ghana as the homeland for home or in the Diaspora. Africans in the Diaspora The project is built around the pan- Tvia an innovative Joseph Project, which Africanist foundations laid by Ghana's takes inspiration from the story of first president, Osagyefo Dr Kwame the Biblical Joseph who was sold into Nkrumah and his outreach to Africans slavery in Egypt by his brethren but in the Diaspora to return to the mother triumphed over all adversity. continent and help in its development. Joseph became a noble man in the In 1994, the government of courts of the Pharoahs, forgave his President Jerry Rawlings took these brethren for selling him into slavery, ideas a step further when it launched and helped them in their times of “Emancipation Day” to be celebrated troubles. His people, who later lived annually in commemoration of the day in captivity in Egypt, finally returned when African slaves in the Americas, home in triumph as free men and the Caribbean and elsewhere got their women. freedom. The Joseph Project was initiated by The Joseph Project aims to reconcile the Ghanaian government through the and unite the African peoples so that Ministry of Tourism and Diasporan their positive spirit and strengths would Relations in collaboration with the be released in a focused manner to United Nations World Tourism help rebuild Africa and the image of Organisation (UNWTO) and the Africans worldwide. United Nations Educational, Cultural Over the four centuries of slavery, and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO). African peoples everywhere were The project is being jointly funded by conditioned by their slave masters to be the Ghana government, UNWTO and self loathing, to see everything African UNESCO. as negative, and to believe that Africa Its benefits are enormous, as it was a definition of failure and ugliness. seeks to turn a painful past into a The time has come to put an end to World Heritage Property and a major the negative and embark on the positive. tourism attraction. Statistics show The Ghana government, therefore, that colonial castles and forts are intends to use the 50th anniversary one of the most sought after tourism of the country's independence, which attractions in the world. The Joseph coincides with the 200th anniversary of Project is basically Ghana’s lead role in the abolition of the Transatlantic Slave re-enacting the sordid chattel slavery Trade, to celebrate “African excellence”. and its devastating effects on mankind, Transatlantic slavery was quite especially Africans at home and in the harsh on Africa and its peoples, Diaspora. as the following lamentations of TOURISM GHANA Project wants to establish a pilgrimage to Ghana, one that every African in the Diaspora must undertake at least once in their lifetime. This pilgrimage will be the introduction of the Diasporan African to the homeland. Its route will include: The slave forts: Ghana has over 40 slave lodges, forts and castles still in place dotted along its coastline, all the way from the east to the west. Their condition ranges from well- preserved, through deterioration, to mere remnants. These are hallowed memorials of an agonised past which must be preserved for posterity and to keep the memory of the period alive. THe last bath Captives or their way to the coast slavery victims, put together by the The last bath: The Slave River at Assin Manso where for shipment to the Americas were International Slavery Museum, in slaves were allowed their last bath before reaching allowed to have their last bath in Liverpool, show: the coast what became known as the Slave River “They tore off my clothes, bound at Assin Manso, where the Ministry me with ropes, gave me a heavy load of Tourism and Diasporan Relations to carry, and led me to the town of (MOTDR) is developing a Garden Bonduku, and from there to the town this beyond doubt when it became the of Commemoration for meditation, of Kumasi … from there through first African colony south of the Sahara an inter-faith prayer hall, and a wall Asikuma and Ajumako in the land to gain its independence in 1957. of return on which pilgrims could of the Fante. There they sold me to The Black Star of Africa drew etch their names to proclaim their the Christians” – Abu Bekr al Siddik, inspiration from the fight for full return. kidnapped 1804. emancipation of Africans worldwide, The Ghana government intends to “They will remember that we were especially the Civil Rights struggle in convert one of the slave forts, James sold but they won’t remember that we America (1896-1970s). Ghana continues Fort in Accra, which was used to keep were strong. They will remember that to fight for the full emancipation of all slaves and then prisoners in later we were bought, but not that we were Africans in every corner of the world. years, into what is billed as an African brave” – William Prescott, former slave, Excellence Experience. A museum 1837. THe activitieS dedicated to Africans who have “I came close to my ancestors and There can be no African century triumphed in all walks of life, and the hard reality of slavery. It made without unity of the African people, who continue to triumph, will be me cry and tremble. I am Cuban, I which means healing of wounds and built here. am black, I am proud” – a visitor to feelings. One of the major components Says the MOTDR: “We will build a the Transatlantic Slavery Gallery in of The Joseph Project is Healing and monument to the ‘True Josephs’ – the Liverpool, 1994. Rapprochement, an event to be mounted Josephs of today and new ones yet to The Joseph Project, thus, recognises in June 2007. It will assemble traditional be born. It is our intention to form a that while it is true that there are many rulers from across West and Central nominating committee of Africans Africans (at home and in the Diaspora) Africa in a meeting with recognised both at home and in the Diaspora to held down by the legacy of their chains, leaders of Africans in the Diaspora. select the men and women who qualify it is also true that there are many, like There will be expiation based on the to become Josephs. These would then the Biblical Joseph, who have risen above recognition that great evil was done. be enrobed and featured in the African their captivity and are shining examples And like the story of the Biblical Joseph, Excellence Experience.” of the best of the human spirit. there will be forgiveness of one another. According to the MOTDR, The History is replete with the names Joseph Project is not just about visits from of Africans who rose, not only above A PI1grimage Diasporan Africans, it also seeks to woo their chains, but also above those who As every Muslim must visit Mecca at Ghanaians in the Diaspora to invest in sought to chain them. Ghana proved least once in their lifetime, The Joseph all sectors of Ghana’s economy. g August. These two festivals will attract thousands of visitors, the majority Over one million of whom will be Diasporan Africans. The MOTDR and its allied agencies will launch Phase Two of the Strategic tourists targeted Action Programme by the end of the year, which would span a period of eight years, covering 2007-2015. this year The Ministry will also complete the preparation of 20 cadastral plans for identified sites along the country’s coastline, together with completed Any tourist worth his salt will have to visit Ghana orthophoto maps, and hold a tourism this year or forget about his salt. 2007, being investors’ conference by December 2007. The Ministry will also develop five Ghana’s golden jubilee year, has more in store more tourist reception facilities and five iconic museums. The projects will start for all visitors. Prince Dennis Klintings reports. this year and be completed next year. The Hand and Paragliding festival at Atibie is fast becoming a major ourism has proven over the Second, the Ministry will fixture on the tourist calendar. The years to be an emerging participate in five major international maiden festival was organised in 2005, sector with great potential. fairs and exhibitions this year and was a huge success and helped to The sector has manifested to promote Ghana as a tourism boost tourism in the area.