Today, I write from the bosom of my ancestry, Ghana. The reception has been overwhelming, the treatment at the Ghanaian Embassy was nothing short of royalty. Even at Heathrow, I was approached by Ghanaians returning home enquiring if I was Ghanaian.On arriving in Accra, I saw many people resembling people I see in Bridgetown daily and the twins of people I know, that’s the only way to put it. I had to restrain myself from asking “where in Barbados are you from” for fear of not being labelled insane.Many Ghanians do not even know of Barbados or the Caribbean and those who know anything of Barbados, only know of Rihanna and think she is from America. Ghana reminds me of parts of Trinidad, Barbados and St Lucia.Yes, they are squatter locations and abject poverty in Ghana, but it’s not a total reflection of Ghana. What Ghanaians really need is a history of democratic governance and time. Much effort is being made to stamp out corruption.Ghana’s Jubilee oil field is thought to hold nearly 325 billion litres of light crude. It was discovered by the American oil exploration company Kosmos in 2006. However, many may be thrilled but not the majority.Their reasons for not being excited is not farfetched, who will blame them? For years the benefit of gold, diamond, cocoa and other mineral export has not brought any seemingly benefit to the majority of the country.Will the majority still wallow in chronic poverty, with no access to water, health care, education, electricity and with transport and other infrastructures crumbling?For years Ghana has received billions of dollars from its gold, timber and cocoa export, yet the living standard and lifestyle of its populace, like most African countries, have failed to improve. Let’s hope this is not a curse for the country of my ancestors. Trinidad, our neighbour, only two weeks ago strengthened ties with Ghana, the upcoming Saudi Arabia of Africa. Why must I go via London to get to Africa where I am constantly profiled as a dark chocolate on a white plate?Yes, every time I pass through customs in London among other passengers unlike my complexion, I am pulled over. We need to stop seeing Africa as the cradle of poverty and wars. Africa is a lovely continent with loving, civilised people very rich in culture, still prone to exploitation by a few unscrupulous multinational corporations.
• Kammie Holder, on his way to Elmina the Point of No Return on the Cape Coast, Ghana.
