This article is the first in a three-part series exploring the growing movement of African Americans seeking refuge and reconnection in Ghana.

Amid growing social and political unrest in the U.S., Ghana has emerged as a beacon of hope — a sanctuary offering respite from America’s increasing polarization. What began as a call to reconnect with ancestral roots through the 2019 “Year of Return” campaign has transformed into the decade-long “Beyond the Return” initiative, offering not only a spiritual homecoming but also an escape from escalating discord.

The “Year of Return,” which commemorated the 400th anniversary of the first enslaved Africans arriving in Jamestown, invited descendants of enslaved people to return to their roots. It resonated deeply with African Americans seeking to understand their heritage and reconnect with the continent. The initiative has struck a chord with many African Americans seeking a connection to their ancestral roots.

However, the second Trump presidency, marked by divisive rhetoric and policies, drives a desire among African Americans to seek refuge abroad.

“There’s really nowhere for me in Trump’s dystopia,” said George Braxton, a Richmond resident considering a move to Ghana with his wife. “This was always our Plan B. We have friends who have invited us to stay for several months to learn about life there. Ghana has essentially unlimited visas for us and is English-speaking.”

Ghana, located on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, has a population of just over 34 million and was the first Black African nation south of the Sahara to gain independence from colonial rule in 1957. The capital Accra sits along the coast and Kumasi, another major city, lies in the south-central region. With the Ghana cedi trading at approximately 14 to 1 USD, some African Americans see the country as an affordable alternative to life in the U.S.

“The evident racism and lack of inclusion in many spaces compels African Americans to look toward Africa in general and Ghana specifically for a safe haven,” said Indee Jordan, a Richmond native who moved to Ghana with her family two years ago. “With a ‘leader’ who is more concerned with exerting power than truly making an impact on the quality of life for all Americans, African Americans are searching for alternatives.” 

Jillean McCommons, an assistant professor of history and Africana studies at the University of Richmond, visited Ghana in 2023 to research sites related to the slave trade, such as the Cape Coast and Elmina slave dungeons.

 Morgan McCommons, assistant professor of history and Africana studies at the University of Richmond, stands at the “Door of Return” at Cape Coast Castle in Ghana, a symbolic passage marking the reconnection of the African diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
 Photo courtesy Morgan McCommons  

“African Americans have always had ties to West Africa going back to W.E.B. Du Bois,” she said, referring to the American sociologist and Pan-African activist. “The difference now is that many more of us can afford to go and we can explore our curiosity about our ancestral links.”

Since the launch of the “Year of Return,” Ghana has seen a significant number of African Americans moving to the country. According to The World, at least 1,500 Black Americans have relocated to Ghana since 2019. Ghana’s Ministry of the Interior reported that 524 people were granted Ghanaian citizenship in a historic ceremony in November 2024, more than four times the number who took the oath in 2019. To build on the success of the “Year of Return” campaign Ghana launched a decade-long follow-up initiative called “Beyond the Return.”

“The election results could push people to move even more,” McCommons said. “It’s the contrast between the welcoming messaging from Ghana versus the uninviting and perhaps even dangerous U.S. political climate.”

While most African Americans do not know the specific origins of their ancestors, Ghana’s invitation has brought them closer to their roots. Former Ghanaian president Nana Akufo-Addo acknowledged the country’s role in the transatlantic slave trade, estimating that 75% of the slave dungeons on the West Coast of Africa were located in Ghana, where Africans were enslaved and then shipped from Ghanaian ports.

“For 40 days, it felt good not to worry about racism,” McCommons said. “It’s an opportunity for us to live in a Black country. People are happy to be in their ancestral home with the peace and tranquility they want.”