Ghana Launches The Sankofa Project to Reconnect the Global African Diaspora Through Memory, Return, and Renewal
Source: Emmanuel Ayiku. Accra, Ghana
Accra, Ghana | 20 December 2025
The Government of Ghana has officially unveiled the Sankofa Project, a landmark Ghana–Diaspora initiative designed to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with the continent through remembrance, return, and shared development.
The announcement was made by Hon. James Gyakye Quayson (MP), Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, during his keynote address at the Diaspora Summit 2025, held at the Accra International Conference Centre from 19–20 December 2025.
Speaking before Heads of State, Ministers, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Traditional Authorities, and diaspora leaders from across the Americas, Europe, the Caribbean, and beyond, the Deputy Minister described the Sankofa Project as “a renewed national commitment to transform memory into reconnection and reconnection into renewal.”
Sankofa: Memory in Motion
Hon. Quayson acknowledged that the original vision of the Sankofa Project was initiated by the Sankofa Freedom Art Project, an international non-governmental organization registered in Ghana and Canada, founded by Comrade Alex Kojo Arthur, a Ghanaian-Canadian Pan-Africanist.
The concept first gained global prominence in Toronto, Canada, following the historic renaming of Dundas Square to Sankofa Square, a moment the Deputy Minister described as “a powerful global signal of remembrance, justice, and renewal.”
Since then, the Sankofa Project has received endorsements and support from:
- The City of Toronto
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- The Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Creative Arts
- The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA)
- The Casa Foundation – Friends of Africa
- Numerous African Diaspora organizations worldwide
The Government of Ghana has now elevated the Sankofa Project into a national collaborative platform, open to public, private, and diaspora partners committed to advancing Ghana–Diaspora engagement.
From Enslavement Routes to Return Routes
At the heart of the Sankofa Project is a symbolic reversal of history.
“Where our ancestors were once forced to leave Africa through routes of enslavement,” Hon. Quayson stated, “their descendants will now return through routes of dignity, remembrance, and reconnection.”
Central to this vision is the creation of Sankofa Freedom Monument Hubs—monumental, educational, and cultural landmarks to be installed in major diaspora cities around the world. These hubs will serve as:
- Sacred spaces of remembrance for ancestors
- Living classrooms of African history and resilience
- Cultural bridges linking Ghana and the global African family
- Anchors for diaspora tourism and heritage exchange
The first Sankofa Freedom Monument is scheduled to be unveiled in Toronto on 23 August 2026, followed by installations across Europe, the United States, the Caribbean, and other global diaspora centers.
Engaging the Diaspora in the Digital Age
To ensure global reach and sustained engagement, the Sankofa Project will be supported by dedicated digital platforms, including official social media channels and a centralized website.
These platforms will:
- Provide trusted information on visiting, resettling, and investing in Ghana
- Share educational content on African history and heritage
- Highlight diaspora success stories
- Serve as interactive gateways for continuous Ghana–Diaspora engagement
Government Commitment and Leadership
As a diasporan who lived in Canada for over 40 years, Hon. Quayson reaffirmed his personal and institutional commitment to the project.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will:
- Coordinate inter-ministerial collaboration
- Engage Ghana’s Missions and Consulates worldwide
- Work closely with diaspora organizations and cultural institutions
- Ensure the Sankofa Project delivers meaningful and lasting outcomes
The Sankofa Project will also serve as a foundation for future cultural, educational, and economic diaspora initiatives.
A Message to the Global African Family
“Ghana welcomes you. Ghana remembers you. Ghana is ready to walk this journey with you.”
Hon. Quayson emphasized that the Sankofa Project is not only about monuments, but about belonging, restored connections, and a shared future.
In closing, he reminded delegates of the enduring meaning of Sankofa, “to go back and fetch what we have lost”,and invited Africans worldwide to participate in building the next chapter of Ghana–Diaspora relations.
About the Sankofa Project
The Sankofa Project is a Ghana–Diaspora initiative supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Creative Arts. It aims to transform remembrance into reconnection through cultural monuments, digital engagement, and Global Diaspora collaboration, positioning Ghana as the spiritual and cultural home of the African Diaspora.
