People & Lifestyle
Rastafari Continental Council commends President Akufo-Addo for ‘Year Of Return’
The Chairman of the Rastafari Continental Council (RCC), Ahuma Bosco Ocansey aka Daddy Bosco has commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the people of Ghana for setting aside this year as the Year of Return in Ghana. He gave the commendation in a closing address at the 2ndRastafari Continental Council Conference held at Koforidua in the eastern region of Ghana.
According to Daddy Bosco, the Rastafari Continental Council is poised to contribute meaningfully to African development through its six commissions. The commissions are Education, Agriculture, Health and Nutrition, Culture, Trade and the Repatriation Commissions which came up with strategic actions to address the needs of Rastafari both on the continent and abroad during the conference.
In her keynote address on Rastafari and African Unity, Empress Marina Blake, a U.S based attorney advised Rastafari to continue to work to achieve the aspirations of the numerous Rastafari worldwide which is the representation of the true African. She said over the years, Rastafari has contributed to the African liberation struggle and the current generation of Rastafari should continue to play a vanguard role in the African emancipation movement.
The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr. Ziblim Iddi in a speech read on his behalf assured the conference of the determination of President Akufo-Addo to welcome the diaspora to Ghana adding that the President will grant some more diasporans, Ghanaian citizenship this year to mark the Year of Return.
The Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador to Ethiopia, His Excellency Lennox Franklyn Frank I Francis commended the Rastafari Continental Council for a successful 2ndconference and wished them well in all their further endeavors.
A representative of the Barbadian government, Mr Phil Phillips advised Africans to look to their Caribbean family for trading links since those markets are viable markets worth exploring.
The conference also elected Ahuma Bosco Ocansey as chairman with Thau Thau Haramanuba of South Africa as deputy chairman, Myke Pam of Nigeria as spokesperson and Queen Mother Moses Marcia Stewart of Jamaica as the deputy spokesperson.
There were solidarity messages from the Caribbean Rastafari Organization and the Black Star Line Cooperative Credit Union. Sponsors for the conference include the Black Star Line Cooperative Credit Union and the Rastafari Council, Ghana.
Over 120 participants from South Africa, Benin, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Burkina Faso. Other participants were from Jamaica, United States, St. Vincent, Guadeloupe and Barbados.