The Minister-Designate for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Andrew Egyapa Mercer has posited that the "BEYOND THE RETURN' initiative has come to stay.

He made these remarks when he received the “BEYOND THE RETURN” Steering Committee at the Ministry on Wednesday 24th April 2024. This courtesy call was to ensure that more pragmatic initiatives for implementing activities under the “Beyond the Return” initiative are put in place by the committee.

The “BEYOND THE RETURN (BTR)” Steering Committee which is co-chaired by the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, and the Minister for Finance is a Diasporan initiative that succeeded the initiative of the “Year of Return” (YOR) by the Government of Ghana, not only to promote tourism and home-coming of Africans and Ghanaians in the diaspora to Ghana but to also foster economic relations and investments from the diaspora in Africa and America.

The committee provided an in-depth briefing on the “Year Of Return” and “Beyond The Return” initiatives to the Hon. Minister-Designate and enumerated the benefits the initiative brought to the nation, as well as the plans being put in place to enhance the experience for the diasporan community.

The Committee also highlighted areas and issues that required the attention of the Ministry if the initiative is to be sustained and improved. They cited the need for a shift from the notion that “the YOR/BTR” initiatives are for foreigners but something to be embraced by all.

There was consensus, that through effective communication, Ghanaians should be enlightened on where and how they fit in and can benefit from the initiatives. The Committee also called for enhanced coordination amongst Ministries, Agencies and Departments whose mandate dovetailed into various aspects of the initiatives.

Concluding his remarks, Hon. Mercer commended the committee for the laudable work done and charged them to continue to bring more pragmatic initiatives forth, as the Government is ever committed to supporting them, taking inspiration for the YOR 2019.

Sompaonline.com/Nana Yaw Boamah