By Albert Ansah
Accra, Jan. 3, GNA – Ghana will later this year officially launch the Sankofa Project in Toronto, Canada, to strengthen cultural, historical and development ties with the global African diaspora.
The launch is intended to deepen engagement with Africans in the diaspora through remembrance, reconnection and shared development, beginning with North America.
The announcement was made by Mr James Gyakye Quayson, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, at the Diaspora Summit 2025 held at the Accra International Conference Centre from December 19 to 20.
He said Toronto was selected as the first international launch destination because of its historic role in advancing the Sankofa vision, following the renaming of Dundas Square to Sankofa Square, which he described as a symbol of remembrance, justice and renewal for Africans worldwide.
“The choice of Toronto is deliberate. It is where the Sankofa idea gained global prominence, and it represents a strong bridge between Ghana and the African diaspora in North America,” he said.
Mr Quayson said the Toronto event would mark the beginning of a global rollout of the Sankofa Project, which seeks to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with the continent through remembrance, return and shared development.
As part of the launch, Ghana will unveil the first Sankofa Freedom Monument Hub in Toronto on August 23, 2026, to serve as a cultural, educational and commemorative landmark for Africans in the diaspora.
He said the monument hub would function as a sacred space of remembrance for enslaved ancestors, a living classroom for African history and resilience, and a cultural bridge linking Ghana with the global African family, while promoting diaspora tourism and heritage exchange.
Mr Quayson said the project was initiated by the Sankofa Freedom Art Project, founded by Ghanaian-Canadian Pan-Africanist Comrade Alex Kojo Arthur, with support from the City of Toronto, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, the Ghana Tourism Authority and several diaspora organisations.
He said the Government had elevated the initiative into a national collaborative platform open to public, private and diaspora partners committed to advancing Ghana–Diaspora relations.
Mr Quayson said the project would be supported by digital platforms, including a central website and official social media channels, to provide information on visiting, resettling and investing in Ghana, while promoting African history, heritage and diaspora success stories.
He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to ensuring the success of the Toronto launch, saying Ghana’s missions and consulates would work closely with diaspora organisations and cultural institutions.
“The Sankofa Project is not just about monuments. It is about belonging, restored connections and building a shared future between Ghana and the global African family,” he said.
The Deputy Minister said the Toronto launch would pave the way for engagements in Europe, the United States and the Caribbean, positioning Ghana as the cultural home of the African diaspora.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey