Ghana is now the “portal” for diaspora reconnection — Shannan Nana Akosua Magee

The President of the African American Association of Ghana, Shannan Nana Akosua Magee, says Ghana has become the primary gateway for African-descended people abroad seeking to reconnect with their history, culture and identity.

Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Thursday (9 February), Magee described the country not simply as a bridge but as a “portal” linking the diaspora to the continent.

“The bridge is already there,” she said. “What we’re doing now is learning how to plan our agenda together.”

From symbolism to sustained engagement

Magee said initiatives such as the Year of Return have moved beyond symbolism and matured into long-term engagement.

Follow-up programmes like the Black Star Experience, she noted, are deepening cultural exchange and creating space for collaboration in business, technology and education.

“It’s bursting with energy,” she said. “There’s a paradigm shift taking place.”

However, she called for more structural changes, including incorporating Afro-descendant history and the Divine Nine legacy into Ghana’s school curriculum.

“We shouldn’t be in 2026 still introducing these stories as brand new,” she said.

Shared history, shared future

Magee also underscored historical links between Ghanaian and African American leaders, noting that both Kwame Nkrumah and Nnamdi Azikiwe belonged to Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, reflecting long-standing intellectual and political exchanges between Africa and the diaspora.

She said today’s generation is rediscovering those ties through culture — from music and fashion to food and digital content — helping young people connect organically.

“People want the cloth, the stories, the food. Through that, we teach history,” she said.

Divine Nine not elitist

Magee rejected the notion that the Divine Nine are exclusive or secretive.

“One of the myths is that we’re an elite club,” she said. “We’re not. We’re service organisations.”

She compared them to Rotary or other civic groups, focused on scholarships, water projects, health and community development.

Her organisation, she added, sees its role as coordinating diaspora voices and ensuring everyone “has a seat at the table” as Ghana shapes future diaspora policy.

“We’re in a good space,” Magee said. “Now it’s about designing the collective agenda together.”