Africans in the diaspora return to Ghana because of the black star in Ghana’s flag

Ras Ariel, a Trinidadian born in Brooklyn says he repatriated with his family to Ghana because of the inspiration he got from Marcus Garvey’s black star found in Ghana’s national flag.

The black star of the Ghanaian national flag is a symbol for the emancipation of Africa and unity against colonialism. The black star was adopted from the flag of the Black Star Line, a shipping line incorporated by Marcus Garvey which operated from 1919 to 1922. It became also known as the Black Star of Africa.

Ras Ariel told Blakk Rasta in an interview on the 3FM Urban Blend show on August 19, that he has never felt like even visiting Trinidad or America for the past 25 years he has lived in Ghana and won’t let the freedom he is enjoying now slide away.

“Challenges face us everywhere and I am not the one that feels comfortable in the land of my oppressors. I am aware they can use all kinds of laws to impose captivity on us again, and I price my freedom. I really and truly enjoy the life that I lead here in Ghana and can’t even risk it to go back for anything,” Ariel stated.

Ras Ariel again, disclosed that his first wife couldn’t understand and cope with the challenges they encountered here in Ghana, so she went back to America and led to the eventual collapse of their marriage.

However, the founder of Earth Seed, and organizer of Marcus Garvey Day celebration in Ghana, Ariel says adapting to Ghana and setting up business was not much of a difficulty for him because he met some kindhearted people who supported and guided him on how best to live in Ghana.

Ras Ariel explained that there are quite a number of Africans from the diaspora in Ghana hence his firm, Earth Seed deemed it necessary to bring them all together to celebrate Marcus Garvey Day on 18 August, in honor of the memory of the man whose philosophies and teachings motivated them to repatriate to Africa.

Marcus Garvey was a Jamaican political leader, publisher, journalist, and orator who advocated for the empowerment and rights of people of African descent. He also championed the repatriation of Africans in the diaspora to Africa.

By Samuel Afriyie Owusu