News

Accept, embrace Africa as your father’s house …Oppong-Fosu urges people of African descent

Ghana’s former Min­ister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Mr Akwasi Oppong-Fosu, has appealed to African Diaspora and the people of African descent to accept and embrace Africa as their father’s house.

He said Africa was a home with immense opportunities for which the African Diasporans should be proud to be associated with.

“We need to make Africa strong by investing there, while we reap the benefits of our investments, we will gain the respect and recognition we have been fighting for.

Mr Oppong-Fosu was speaking at the Rainbow Push Coalition Annual Convention Internation­al Forum at the University of Chicago, USA.

The forum was on the theme: “People of African Descent: Recognition, Justice and Devel­opment” which was in line with the United Nations General Assembly in December 2013 proclamation of 2014-2015, as the international decade for the people of African descent.

It was organised by the Rain­bow Push Coalition, founded by Reverend Jesse Jackson Snr, a Global Civil and Human Rights icon.

He paid tribute to Rev. Jesse Jackson Snr, who retired on the day of the event and described him as someone who had served humanity, adding, “Throughout the world today, another global icon, Nelson Mandela, is being celebrated.”

Mr Oppong-Fosu on the intractable identity question of people of African descent said his focus was central to the theme because identity gave a sense of Africans, and how others perceived, labelled and related.

“Out of this social conscious­ness our very being and existence is acknowledged and accepted as being worthy of equal rights and justice”.

Mr Oppong-Fosu reminded the audience of Malcom X’s appreciation of African Diaspora and Africa connection of what was to be gained when he drew a parallel with the development in China as a weak state whose people were disrespected.

“For which there was a saying that, ‘one doesn’t have a China man’s chance’ till China become strong and the saying disappeared with an accompanying recog­nition and respect to a Chinese wherever they find themselves.

“Malcom X, went on to say that ‘when we get a strong Afri­ca, the person of African origin or ancestry will be respected on this earth even in America, but he will not be respected in America until Africa is strong’ ,” he added.

Dignitaries present at the fo­rum were President and Founder of the Rainbow Push Coalition, Reverend Jesse Jackson Snr; Epsy Campbell Barr, former Vice President of Costa Rica; Jona­than Jackson, US Congressman, Ilhan Omar, US Congresswoman of Illinois State, Malcom Jallow, a Swedish Member of Parliament and Carol Ammons, a Represen­tive of the 103rd District.

Show More
Back to top button