Recently African Americans living in Ghana touring Ghana and visting have been giiving their honest opinions on some of nuances of making a decision about repatriation to Africa.The reason for the Black Afrikan Infrastructure Organization was that we came to the conclusion that it was infrastructure that kept Black people loyal to America nothing else.America offfers first world infrastructure.Roads electricity modern imenities.These are things African Americans are socially acustomed tto.So one of the main things when considering an African country to move to would be infrastructure.If you are parents with children what kinds of schools does the country have?What are the fees?Does this include school bus?Free lunch?Books and supplies?All things we take for granted in America.
Healthcare is the most serious consideration when repatiating.Having good hospital clinical and medical care can save your life.In most third world developing nations healthcare is lacking.So purchasing healthcare in the States before arriving is essential.Many hospitals in Africa will not treat you unless you are insured or have a credit card.When you have an accident or emergency and cant pay,the host country already struggling is stuck with the bill.It is in this context that Ghana is taking precausions about who gets into the country during a pandemic.As people are complaining about the Covid 19 testing fees now one of the highest in the world.
Many Continental Africans are resentful of the position of power African Diasporans hold.As the number of African Diaspora go to the motherland they are changing the global African story.Years ago Dynast Amir was traveling to Africa and he was the only Black face on the plane.Now things have changed,you see Ethiopian Airlines booked with Black faces.The Year of return in 2019 brought 1.2 billion dollars into the Ghanian Economy.I have friend who invest in Ghana says he and his with on vacation are spending 1000 dolllars a day partying alone.So Ghanian business are benefitting from this new interest in Ghana by African Americans and Caribbeans.With this comes some resentement by the locals who accuse African Americans of being arrogant entitled and greedy.When these entitled AA come to Ghana and have the audacity to demand citizenship Ghanaians rightfully so object.Citizenship is all the Ghanians have left as their country opens its doors.Protecting their citizens is their priority not accomadating African Americans.So a fundamental misunderstanding of Pan Africanism and an overestimation of its influences which never translated into law or policy only emotion,has the whole movement in jeopardy.African Americans look to Africa for salvation but most Africans in power are realistic.
Comments
I dropped the brother some comments on his YouTube. Also he had some decent follow ups. It seems like it more a thing of your criticism isn't a constructive as you think it is and that deserves to be pointed out. While some people get caught in their feels I think he was saying that you stepped past being constructive he was more specifically talking about some of the rhetoric from GoBlack.
Here is my point.Africans are sensitive about things like infrastructure sanitation services ect.Things we take for granted in the West.Also constructive criticism is not bad.I don't think goblack was being malicious or mean spirited.Moving from a highly developed nation to a nation that is developing, people need full disclosure.I think because he has a large audience and influence many take that as he is trying to tarnish the image of Ghana.Samuel L Jackson was accused of the same thing because he posted pictures of market ladies children selling food on the streets.They said he should have posted the nice hotels and restaurants in Ghana instead
Yea being overly offended when your brother points out an error constructively is just a sign of immaturity, and an unwillingness to change. Unfortunately none of us have time for that. Until Ghana and other countries get leaders that are true Pan Africans it's going to be slow moving... unless you are East Africa. The EAC is clearly working on getting organized economically, and aiming to play the global political game.
That's true but we have to be clear.Getting on a plane to Africa is no guarantee of Pan Africanism.Nor does it mean the individual is a Pan Africanist.We have to have our people educated organized and with a mission
Yes your average Black American is kind of spoiled because we here in America. Yes I am still here but not for long but that's another story. But the point is this anger by local citizens towards us on the continent is hypocritical at best and bias at worse towards us Black Americans. White people go to Africa insult and complain about the continent and it people all the time. Where was this don't like it then leave attitude then and even now. Infact the Chinese call our brothers and sisters stupid IN THEIR FACES 100% of the time either through their actions, in how they talk to our African brothers and sisters, or through videos by teaching African children racist sayings about Africans in Chinese or through building projects that our people can do themselves but for some reason get the Chinese or others to do for them. I know we as Black Americans have our issues due to colonialism but it is time other African citizens need to cancel that noise and smoke about us and look at themselves alittle harder and then maybe they realize they were colonized too and it time we improve and make a better Africa together than finding ways to separate us.
Bim Bam 💥 ba boom 💥 brother!!
No one gets better without fair and constructive criticism. You have to be open to at least hear other ideas. That is a characteristic/trait/skill of people that are capable of growing. AA's in large swathes have been socially engineered to be complicit in the degradation of the community, thus they are no longer capable of growth or growing(things not just themselves) While it is good to hold on to traditions that make you and your group distinct and maintaining pride in such, you also have be wise enough and willing to part with the things that determintal. There has to be some serious accords within the diaspora, not superficial declarations and game. Real talk that and diatribes that get people a shared understanding. I can see Continental Africans being resistant to certain behaviors of AAs in particular, but conversely they have to absorb some of the new ideas and being introduced, that we've picked from being behind enemy lines. If the government doesn't work to abate fears, and we don't vet(also re-educate)our own from the within the diaspora we are going to fail every time. It's about reciprocity. If you are out her looking for a mate and you don't have bare minimum standards you are going to settle for someone you can't work with when trying to build a life together. It's the same with repatriation, and making Africa a comfortable home for her children.
Albeit, I think African Americans repatriating to Ghana are not organised enough or in any case to form a voice politically in Ghana. That is the first step to affect a change. A small contingency could be deployed in a local municipality or village as a voice on the local level for starters.
We have brother Bomani building a community in Ghana for expats check him out in the photo section