By EE Okpa
Congresswomen Sheila Jackson-Lee of Texas, Sara Jacobs of California, and Gwen Moore of Wisconsin emerge from a half dozen prospects to co-chair the newly registered caucus
Washington DC – The Ghana Diaspora Public Affairs Collective (GhanaPAC) formally launched the Congressional Ghana Caucus at an event on the Capitol Hill grounds on Wednesday, September 21, 2022.
Ghana’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Honorable Alan Kyeremateng was on hand to chair the launching at the Capitol Hill steps.
On that same day, via a letter cited by DNT, GhanaPAC formally registered the Caucus with the Committee on House Administration headed by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren of California.
Unlike other country caucuses at the United States Congress, the Congressional Ghana Caucus promises to be very active considering its leadership.
The Ghana Caucus will be co-chaired by Congresswomen Sheila Jackson-Lee of the 18th District of Texas, Sarah Jacobs of the 53rd District of California, and Gwen Moore of the 4th District of Wisconsin.
The Congressional Ghana Caucus will serve as an informal group of members dedicated to informing policy issues impacting people of Ghanaian heritage living in the United States and advancing US-Ghana relations.
The Congressional Ghana Caucus is the brainchild of two Ghanaian Washington DC-based political activists, Adwoa Kyeremateng and Kim Afoakwa.
DNT News, with correspondence reports from Adwoa Adofo, Washington, DC
REJOINDER:
Ghanaians must be screwed to think having these mostly liberal Democrats amounts to anything. Sheila Lee Jackson represents one of the poorest Congressional districts in Texas. What value will Ghana expect to obtain from her serving in a non-collateral committee that is not a standing committee approval by the House leadership?
When it comes to the US, only Senate Committee on Foreign Relations matters. That a minister of Ghana went to US for such jamboree tells me Ghana government does not know how to access US. The Ghana Ambassador to US or the Foreign Affairs Minister should have attended, not the Minister of Trade.
Somebody needs to tell Africans that, getting something from the United States is about strategic access, not wishful endeavors like Ghana Congressional Caucus; it is a joke.
Africa is of least importance to America because Africa’s resources to lobby them is limited and because they have almost nothing to make a case that resonates with US.
African-Americans Returning to Ghana on the basis of spiritual connection does not translate to economic empowerment. One cannot name one major corporation that has moved to Ghana because of African-Americans. Statistically speaking, they are coming with similar baggage of not liking America but returning to Ghana to fill a void singing kumbaya ya. How does one score Spiritual Connection on economic development scorecard?
I visited African-Americans center in Ghana when I visited last year, and was saddened by the depressing conditions. One cannot give what they never had. Diaspora return should spark new and improved ways. One needs tell me one aspect of Ghana’s economy that has improved because of African-Americans are returning to Ghana. We should not forget that Sierra Leone and Liberia were freed slaves. Today the two countries are the most rundown in Anglophone west Africa.
Ghana should be selective and chosey who they invite, if not, nothing improves. Ghana will benefit more treating her natives better and improving on standards of living than the jamboree associated with African-Americans making spiritual connections just to feel good.
Ghana should not be a FEEL GOOD depot but a depot where having Good Feelings is part of economic development stride necessary to jump start its potential. If Ghana wants a model to copy and paste – give me opportunity to host a retreat with Ghana officials and AJC to see how to really plug into US.
The Congressional caucus as portrayed in this article is a WASH – it shouldn’t amount to any worthy attention.
Just my 2 cents better than 2 Cedis. EE OKPA Global Affairs Analyst.
LATEST POSTS
- Understanding Economic Planning and Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda
- FCT Police Commissioner loses son in tragic auto accident in Abuja
- EXCLUSIVE: Critically Ill Nigerian In Ethiopian Prison Allegedly Abandoned, Denied Treatment By Facility Officials
- 18 States Sue To Block Trump’s Order Ending Birthright Citizenship For Immigrant Children In US
- Trump Vows to Impose Taxes, Tariffs On Foreign Countries To Enrich US Citizens
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER NOW
TEXT AD: To advertise here – Email ad@matazarising.com
