To make the building of the Monument of Liberty and Reunification a success, Dr. Barryl A. Biekman (Ambassador of the African Diaspora Union and General Coordinator of the Ghana Year of Return Kumasi-Carnival), on behalf of the Ghana-Kumasi Organizing & Coordination Committee, led by Dr. Susan Alfred-Walcott (Chair of the Ghana-Caribbean Chamber of Commerce) in cooperation with the Ghana National Commission on Culture led by Madam Edna Janet Nyame (Director), is asking the Global African Diaspora Family and their Friends to contribute toward the project by making a donation of any amount at GoFundme. 

Photo credit: Monument of Liberty and Reunification. Initiated by The Global Year of Return Kumasi-Carnival 2019 Organizing Committee in cooperation with the African Diaspora Union (AFRIDU), and designed by Senyo Doe Kokoroko.

Launched in September 2018 in Washington D.C. by the President of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the “Year of Return, Ghana 2019”, seeks to unite Africans on the continent with the Sixth Region Diaspora in and outside the continent. As a major landmark marketing campaign targeting the Africans – Americans and Diaspora to mark the 400 years of the first enslaved Africans arriving in Jamestown Virginia, USA, the Year of Return, Ghana 2019, seeks to make Ghana the focus for millions of African descendants reacting to their marginalization by tracing their ancestry and identity. Because of the extraordinary achievements and contribution that Africans in the Diaspora have made to the lives of many, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo emphasized during the launch that, the commemoration of the 400 years must also honor the existence and sacrifices of these Africans.

As part of the activities surrounding the Global Year of Return Kumasi Carnival 2019, a project to build a Memorial Monument of Liberty and Reunification is under way. This Monument will be in the first place to mark the historical calls from two African 'Giants' who called for unity between Africans at home and abroad and towards the Global Africans in the diaspora to return to their Motherland Africa:

• Kwame Nkrumah (21 September 1909 - 27 April 1972), a Ghanaian politician and revolutionary, influential advocate of pan-Africanism, first Prime Minister and first President of Ghana, who led Ghana to its independence from Britain in 1957, and

• Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr. (17 August 1887 - 10 June 1940), a Jamaican-born political activist, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, orator, founder and first President-General of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL, commonly known as UNIA).

Secondly, the Monument is a commemoration of the millions of African people, victims of the transatlantic slave trade, slavery, colonialism and apartheid, who were forcefully taken away from their Homeland in Africa into centuries of crimes against their humanity: deprivation, humiliation, torture, and genocide.

Thirdly, the Monument will be a place to remember all Heroes and Sheroes who made happen that those crimes against humanity could be brought to an end, as well for those (PAN) Africans who, for centuries, have fought against all forms of Afriphobia, Afrophobia, apartheid, and colonialism; and for recognition, reparatory and restorative justice for the interests of Africa and the benefit of the Global African people.

Initiated by The Global Year of Return Kumasi-Carnival 2019 Organizing Committee in cooperation with the African Diaspora Union (AFRIDU), and designed by Senyo Doe Kokoroko, the monument is 12 feet high and 33 feet long. This monumental structure comprises of water fountain statues, a (symbolic) Ship (of Return) that carries the descendants of (enslaved) Africans, inspired by the Marcus Mosiah Garvey Jr’s, “Black Star Line” (Steamship) and a Wall on which Plaques of African descendants globally will be mounted. They traveled by water, hence the concept behind the Ship and pool of water. The viewing Platform in the middle of the top most part of the Wall is the Gye Nyame symbol meaning “except God”. This Adinkra symbol implies that it took the intervention of God to bring back our lost siblings. The Feminine statues with pots in their hands in which water runs to and from represent Akwaaba, which implies “Welcome”. This depicts the readiness to accept our African families, brothers, and sisters back 'Home'. The Rock on which plaques of Kwame Nkrumah and Marcus Garvey are mounted signifies Strength, Prosperity, Eternity and for most Decolonization, Liberation and Reunification.

Photo credit: Monument of Liberty and Reunification. Initiated by The Global Year of Return Kumasi-Carnival 2019 Organizing Committee in cooperation with the African Diaspora Union (AFRIDU), and designed by Senyo Doe Kokoroko.

To make the building of this Monument a success, Dr. Barryl A. Biekman (Ambassador of the African Diaspora Union (AFRIDU) to Europe and Dutch Speaking Countries and General Coordinator of the Ghana Year of Return Kumasi-Carnival), on behalf of the Ghana-Kumasi Organizing & Coordination Committee, led by Dr. Susan Alfred-Walcott (Chair of the Ghana-Caribbean Chamber of Commerce) in cooperation with the Ghana National Commission on Culture led by Madam Edna Janet Nyame (Director), is asking the Global African Diaspora Family and their Friends to contribute toward the project by making a donation of any amount. The total amount needed for the realization of the monument including the overhead cost is $60,000. The solemn unveiling of the Monument will take place on October 30, 2019 in Kumasi, Ghana. After the launch of the Monument, the Organizing & Coordination Committee will publish a report about the name and amount given by each donor and how the total amount will be spent.

Please support this iniatiative today by clicking here to donate on GoFundMe. 

To learn more about the “Ghana Year of Return, Kumasi-Carnival  2019”, please visit https://kumasi-carnival.com.  

On behalf of Dr Barryl A. Biekman (www.GlobalDiasporaNews.com/BarrylBiekman), this article was written by Global Diaspora News (www.GlobalDiasporaNews.com).

Source: https://www.globaldiasporanews.com/monument-of-liberty-and-reunification/