Former Finance Minister Abena Osei-Asare has criticized the Mahama administration for replacing the ‘Year of Return’ initiative with the newly introduced ‘Black Star Experience,’ arguing that the move lacks originality and fails to introduce fresh policies.
Speaking during a debate on the 2025 budget on Tuesday, March 18, Osei-Asare accused the government of merely rebranding existing initiatives instead of building on their successes with innovative programs.
The ‘Year of Return,’ launched in 2019 under the Akufo-Addo administration, marked 400 years since the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia, USA. The initiative significantly boosted tourism by encouraging the African diaspora to reconnect with their roots in Ghana.
In contrast, the ‘Black Star Experience,’ introduced by the Mahama administration, aims to position Ghana as a hub for African heritage and creative arts. The initiative seeks to expand on previous tourism campaigns, including ‘Beyond the Return,’ which drew thousands of visitors of African descent to the country.
The debate over these tourism strategies continues as stakeholders assess their long-term impact on Ghana’s cultural and economic landscape.
She said, “One thing I also find interesting is that my people on the other side [majority], they come up with fanciful names for some existing initiatives.
“Everybody knows the year of return in the diaspora, it’s a big thing. They claim they want to reset the economy, and they changed it to Black Star Experience, is interesting. ‘Year of Return’, has more meaning than just Blackstar Experience. What is the meaning of that.”
