Hope Comes Home: Why the Opening of the Obama Presidential Center on Juneteenth Matters

On June 19, 2026, President Barack Obama will welcome the world to the Obama Presidential Center on Chicago’s South Side, opening the doors to a landmark that is far more than a museum. The theme of the historic occasion— “Hope Comes Home”—captures a powerful truth. For millions of Americans, especially African Americans... Read More

• 06-16-2026
• African Connections

Ghana to Host First National Juneteenth Celebration Outside the United States

Ghana is set to make history on June 19, 2026, by hosting the first-ever national-level Juneteenth commemoration outside the United States. The historic observance forms part of the High-Level Consultative Conference on the Next Steps to the Landmark United Nations Resolution on the Trafficking of Enslaved Africans, taking place in Accra from June 17–19, 2026. The conference will... Read More

• 06-16-2026
• African Connections

Ghana’s New E-Visa System Makes Traveling to the Motherland Easier Than Ever for African Americans

For many African Americans, a journey to Ghana is more than just a vacation. It is a deeply personal homecoming — a chance to reconnect with heritage, history, culture and identity on the African continent. Now, Ghana is making that journey significantly easier. The West African nation has officially launched a new electronic visa (e-Visa) platform that allows travelers to apply for visas completely online, eliminating much of the stress and... Read More

• 05-25-2026
• African Connections

Ghana Grants Citizenship to More than 150 Members of the African Diaspora

More than 150 members of the African Diaspora took a powerful step toward reclaiming their ancestral roots on Monday, March 9, 2026 as they were officially granted Ghanaian citizenship during a moving ceremony at the Accra International Conference Centre. For many in the room, the moment represented far more than paperwork—it symbolized a long- awaited homecoming to the land of their ancestors. The ceremony brought together government officials, diplomats, and diaspora representatives as the new citizens took the... Read More

• 03-10-2026
• African Connections

Philadelphia Students Travel to Ghana for Transformative Black History Month Learning Experience

A group of seventh-grade students from Global Leadership Academy Southwest in West Philadelphia has returned home after completing a transformative 10-day educational journey to Ghana during Black History Month. Led by the school’s co-founder, civil rights activist Dr. Naomi Johnson Booker, the students traveled to West Africa in February and returned around March 9, 2026, after taking part in a program designed to connect classroom lessons with real-world history and... Read More

• 02-18-2026
• African Connections

Ja Rule Returns to Ghana, Commissions New School Block

American rapper and philanthropist Ja Rule has once again demonstrated his love for Ghana and his commitment to education. On April 1, 2025, the hip-hop icon officially commissioned a six-unit classroom block at Nuaso Anglican Primary School in the Eastern Region, marking another milestone in his mission to support learning opportunities for young Ghanaian students.The initiative, launched last year... Read More

• 11-15-2025
• African Connections

Ciara traces her roots to Benin and becomes a Citizen

Grammy-winning R&B star Ciara recently took a powerful step to reconnect to her African heritage by becoming a citizen of the Republic of Benin. She was one of those granted citizenship under the country’s new law for descendants of enslaved Africans. The ceremony, held in the coastal city of Cotonou, marked an emotional and historic moment for Ciara and for the growing movement of African Americans seeking deeper ties with the continent. Benin joins other African nations, like Ghana... Read More

• 07-29-2025
• African Connections