Former Deputy Finance Minister Abena Osei-Asare has chastised the President John Dramani Mahama for replacing the ‘Year of Return’ initiative with the ‘Black Star Experience.’
She accused the government of replacing or changing the names of existing initiatives instead of introducing new ones.
Abena Osei-Asare made the remarks during the debate on the 2025 budget statement today, Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
In her view, instead of creating new initiatives, the current NDC government was rather rebranding existing ones.
“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.
“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 Blackstar Experience. What is the meaning of that?”
The ‘Year of Return’ was launched in 2019 under the Akufo-Addo administration to commemorate 400 years since the first enslaved Africans arrived in Virginia, USA.
One of the main goals of the Year of Return campaign is to position Ghana as a key travel destination for African Americans and the African Diaspora.
About the Black Star Experience
The ‘Black Star Experience’ is a cultural and tourism initiative introduced by the Mahama administration, aiming to position Ghana as a premier destination for African heritage and creative arts.
The Black Star Experience would integrate efforts from multiple government agencies and ministries, ensuring a cohesive strategy for promoting arts, culture, and tourism.
The initiative will also provide a platform for young creatives and cultural activists to contribute, fostering innovation and economic opportunities in the creative arts sector.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
