2nd edition of Black History Festival begins with opportunities in Africa in digitization and innovation

• Posted on February 17, 2023February 17, 2023
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The second edition of Black History Festival which is currently underway in Columbus Ohio, USA, has started a conversation with astute African-Black-American Professionals in diaspora in the areas of Culture, Arts and Heritage and Innovation and Digitization.

The Festival which is in its second day at the Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel has opened the eyes of the Africans in diaspora to some of the opportunities that are untapped in Africa especially in the areas of digitization and tourism.

Key personalities participating in the Black Historg Festival since February 15, 2023, include; the Senior Presidential Advisor to Ghana’s President, Hon. Yaw Osaafo Maafo, H.E. Hilda Sufa Mafuze, Permanent Representative of the African Union to to USA, Nana Ama Asiamah Adjei, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industries, Major of Accra, Elizabeth Sackey, CEO of EIB Network, Nathaniel Kwabena Addisi, Executive Director of the Economic and Organized Crime Office, COP Maame Tiwaa Addo Danquah, CEO of the Ghana Digital Center, Kwadwo Baah Agyemang, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Awal Mohammed, Akwasi Awuah-Ababio, Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President, Michael Bartlett-Vanderpuye, CEO of M&C Group, Yaa Amoako-Adu, CEO of Intergrity Logistics and Consult Ltd, Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of Ghana Tourism Authroity,  Mbaye Mbengue, a United Nations Executive of Senegalese decent, Dr. Joybert Javnuy, Exectuive President of CELBMD Africa Institute, Cameroon, Dr. Evans Duah, an Economist, amongst others. 

Speaking at the opening of the Festival, Hon. Yaw Osaafo Maafo commended the organizers of the Black History Festival, Bureau for International Development, Exchanges and Commerce (BIDEC) for being the bridge between Africa and the diaspora and offering the platform for a fluid chat in areas of development of the continent. Speaking about the opportunities that Ghana provides for investors, the Senior Minister also enumerated some of the companies who are flourishing in Ghana as a result of favourable trade conditions they have put in place in the country.

The Coordinator and the President of BIDEC, Stephen Selassie Asuo in his opening remarks iterated the areas of partnership that the company is open to and also wooed the Africans in diaspora to consider taking their expertise to Africa. 

The Ghana Digital Center CEO, Kwadwo Baah Agyemang mentioned that, the Center has various opportunities for start-ups and already established companies in the areas of digitization and innovation and further mentioned some of the companies that are doing well at the Center. Key amongst the innovations mentioned is the solar car innovation that is currently being supported by the Center. 

The Black History Festival is a platform that brings together Africans and Africans in diaspora to have conversations on the development of the continent and how to better partner with other continent for mutual benefits.