The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, National Tourist Board and Monuments and Relics Commission (MRC) on Monday organized a Heritage/Civil Education and Business Development Workshop for 35 African-Americans who have traced their roots to Sierra Leone.
The workshop was held at the Family Kingdom Resort, Aberdeen, in Freetown.
The Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr Memunatu Pratt, said Africans were forcefully taken abroad as slaves; that many died on the way and that they contributed to build America and Europe but discriminated against with no equal rights and opportunities; that they fought for their freedom, adding that those who fought back through civil rights movements were killed.
Dr Pratt stated that DNA was a great and beautiful technology that brought people together and commended the African-Americans for taking their DNA tests to return home, which she underlined was a real sacrifice that could not be overrated. She revealed that the Ministry had been organizing such programmes for the past four years and that many African-Americans had gone through it.
She said Ghana and other countries were doing similar programmes, affirming that development was not only about Sierra Leoneans at home but also those in the Diaspora.
Dr Pratt continued that the African Union had declared the Diaspora as the sixth region of Africa and that African-Americans had contributed to the development of Sierra Leone in various areas like agriculture, tourism and education. She reiterated that the country needed them and would be given the space to operate.
She said Sierra Leone was built on descent and was identified as the free or melting pot for slaves, adding that Sierra Leonean Ambassadors were building a community in America.
Earlier, Ann Marie Kamara, Administrative Officer at MRC called on the participants to sing the National Anthem and National Pledge while Mohamed Faray Kargbo, Education and Communications Officer MRC in his welcome address, commended the participants for tracing their roots and taking the bold step to return to Sierra Leone.
Francis Momoh, the Research Officer at MRC, disclosed that one of their functions was to bridge the gap between Sierra Leone and the Diaspora, lamented the dangers of slavery and colonialism and underscored that Sierra Leoneans had to tell their own history.
He continued that the African-Americans who had traced their ancestry to Sierra Leone were descendants of freed slaves, stressing that “we have to take responsibility to bridge the disconnections”.
The Chief Immigration Officer, Andrew Jiah Kaikai, disclosed that for one to become a naturalized citizen of Sierra Leone he/she should have residence in the country for eight years but that the African-Americans had been exempted as their passports would be processed at the event. He assured them that they were home and that they would not be discriminated against.
Abass Kamara, Director of Legal Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, dilated on the vision and mission of the Ministry including the promotion and protection of Sierra Leone’s national interests, signing and respecting conventions, treaties and agreements as well as protection of human rights.
Mr Kamara stated that they were developing a Civil Service Bill which was now with Cabinet, constructed a Foreign Service Academy, established a Foreign Languages Department and that the country is vying for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council. He added that Sierra Leone had diplomatic missions worldwide which were strategically located.
Highlights of the workshop were presentation of certificates to the participants, living in Sierra Leone panel discussion (testimonies) and musical performances by the National Dance Troop.