Cape Coast, June 8, GNA-Nana Yartel III, chief of Amamoma a suburb of Cape Coast on Thursday gave a boost to the intention to construct a "Tower of Return Monument" (TRM) in memory of all Africans who perished during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, when he confirmed that he has released 81 hectares of land as his contribution towards the project.
The chief made the confirmation at a stakeholders meeting at his palace at Amamoma, which was graced by the new Central Regional Minister, Mr Stephen Nana Ato Arthur.
The land was released to Sankofa United Continental African Route Development International Family Association (SUCARDIF), a Non-Governmental Association, which is undertaking the project in collaboration with the Ghana Tourist Board and the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, among others.
The TRM, which would cost 180 million to construct, would be 777 feet high with a globe on top of it, while the bottom of the tower would have an exhibition centre, and behind the centre, would be three modern pyramids for use as a library, a museum and a conference centre. Nana Yartel, stated that he was glad that the TRM was going to be constructed in his area of jurisdiction, as it would no doubt boost tourism and also help in the provision of jobs for the youth in the area.
Nana Ato Arthur, for his part, reiterated that the region was a hub for tourism and any effort that aimed at boosting it, was worth supporting, and assured SUCARDIF of his personal support for the project to achieve success.
He commended SUCARDIF for their foresight in mooting the idea to construct the TRM, and stated that everything would be done to assist them fulfill their hopes and aspirations. Nana Kweku Egyir Gyepi III, Akyempimhen of Oguaa Traditional Area announced that SUCARDIF in conjunction with International Affairs Commission (IAC) and other international organizations and movements would organize a Global Pan- African Conference on reparations and repatriation from July 22 to August 2 this year in Accra. According to him, the conference, aims, among others, at reviewing, accessing and improving worldwide efforts of the International Reparations as well as developing and coordinating the implementation of strategies that would help reconcile and unite the people of Africa and those in the Diaspora.
He said the conference, which is under the theme, "create the future: transformation, repatriation, reparation and reconciliation", would be attended by about 1,000 Africans in the Diaspora. Nana Gyepi stated that issues concerning the just demands of Africans for reparation of 770 trillion dollars for the wrongs done them during the Slave Trade would also be discussed alongside other related matters.
Madam Imahkus Ababio, a repatriated African, said the tower of return monument project would be financed through fund raising activities in and outside Ghana, and therefore called on all to contribute towards the construction of the monument. According to her in 1988, there were about 48 million African-Americans in the United States of America alone, and that if each African in the Diaspora should donate at least a dollar, it would be possible for the project to be completed within the shortest possible time.
