Five hundred African-American women, members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, have arrived in Ghana from the United States for a historic visit that blends celebration, remembrance and reconnection.

Founded at Howard University in 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first African-American sorority. The group is in Ghana to mark its 118th Founders’ Day, the first time the milestone celebration is being held outside the United States.

Beyond celebrating the sorority’s legacy, the visit represents a symbolic return to the ancestral homeland of its members.

As part of the programme, the women have toured key historical sites including the Cape Coast Castle and the Assin Manso Slave River, both of which played central roles in the transatlantic slave trade.

The visit reinforces Ghana’s position as a leading destination for the African diaspora and builds on initiatives such as the Year of Return 2019 and Beyond the Return, which encourage people of African descent to reconnect with their heritage and invest culturally, socially and economically in the country.

Chief Executive Officer of the Adinkra Group, Diallo Sumbry, who played a key role in organising the visit, said the presence of the Alpha Kappa Alpha members would boost tourism, strengthen cultural ties and deepen business relations between Ghana and the United States.

“What this shows is that years after the Year of Return and into the Black Star Experience, we are still attracting large numbers of people from the diaspora to come to Ghana,” he said.

Mr Sumbry noted that African-American traditions include several significant commemorative days that could draw large numbers of visitors if properly harnessed.

He stressed the need for collaboration between government and private stakeholders with strong connections to the diaspora.

“It is important for the government and the private industry to partner with private people like me and others who understand what we are marketing to the diaspora,” he said.

President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Danette Anthony Reed, highlighted the group’s commitment to service during the visit. She said members would undertake activities as part of the sorority’s Childhood Hunger Initiative PowerPacks programme.

“We have a programme called the CHIP Childhood Hunger Initiative PowerPacks,” she said.

“While we are here on January 15, we intend to pack at least 1,000 PowerPacks. These will include essential food items such as rice, tomato paste and packaged fish. Every member of the group will contribute in one way or another, making this a collective effort.”

She added that the sorority would also focus on maternal health, with plans to make a substantial donation to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to support and equip one of its maternity wards.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Gilbert Aggrey, popularly known as Abeiku Santana, said the visit would have a positive impact on the economy and reflects government’s commitment to promoting year-round diaspora engagement, beyond the traditional December peak.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated is known for its focus on community service, education, leadership and social justice.

These values align closely with Ghana’s development priorities, offering opportunities for collaboration in areas such as health, education and economic empowerment.