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Former Finance Minister Abena Osei-Asare has taken issue with the Mahama administration’s decision to replace the ‘Year of Return’ initiative with the ‘Black Star Experience,’ arguing that the move is a mere rebranding of an already successful program rather than an introduction of new policies.
The ‘Year of Return,’ launched in 2019 under the Akufo-Addo administration, marked 400 years since the first recorded arrival of enslaved Africans in the United States.
The initiative successfully positioned Ghana as a major destination for African diasporans seeking to reconnect with their roots, significantly boosting tourism and investment in the country.
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Speaking during a debate on the 2025 budget on Tuesday, March 18, Osei-Asare accused the Mahama administration of recycling initiatives without offering substantial improvements or innovations.
“One thing I also find interesting is that my people on the other side [majority], they come up with fanciful names for some existing initiatives,” she remarked.
“Everybody knows the ‘Year of Return’ in the diaspora; it’s a big thing. They claim they want to reset the economy, and they changed it to ‘Black Star Experience,’ which is interesting. ‘Year of Return’ has more meaning than just the ‘Black Star Experience.’ What is the meaning of that?”
The ‘Black Star Experience,’ introduced by the Mahama administration, aims to further Ghana’s role as a premier destination for African heritage tourism and creative arts.
The initiative seeks to build upon the momentum of the ‘Year of Return’ and ‘Beyond the Return’ campaigns, which drew thousands of visitors of African descent to the country.
Despite its intended goals, Osei-Asare’s critique has sparked debate on whether the rebranding was necessary and whether it will maintain the same level of global recognition and impact as the original ‘Year of Return’ initiative.
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