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'I’m truly living my ancestors' wildest dreams' - African overseas diaspora finds home, business opportunities in Ghana

'I’m truly living my ancestors' wildest dreams' - African overseas diaspora finds home, business opportunities in Ghana

"A growing number of people from the African diaspora abroad are returning to Ghana. They are doing so not only to reconnect with their roots but also to build fulfilling lives and successful businesses. Footage filmed on Friday shows Caribbean-American entrepreneur Deijha Gordon inspecting the cooking process inside her Jamaican food truck, Deijha Vu's Jerk Hut, in Accra. "My father is from Guyana, my grandfather is from Jamaica, and that's where I got the idea to do a Jamaican food truck here in Ghana," she explained. Gordon, who left a career in the US federal government, describes Ghana as a place of peace and connection. "Living in Ghana is like a slower-paced lifestyle [...] from being from New York City, it’s very aggressive, it’s fast-paced [...] but here it’s pretty chilled," the woman said. She also recalls feeling emotional upon receiving her Ghanaian citizenship, describing it as a symbolic homecoming after centuries of separation. "It meant so much more than just a passport [...] I’m truly living my ancestors’ wildest dreams," she continued. Gordon believes the diaspora has a role to play in Africa’s economic growth. "We should come here with our skills, our knowledge, and our patience [...] My entire team is Ghanaian, and we’re learning from each other," she advised. Footage also shows fellow New Yorker returnee Monty 'Cashew Daddy' Graham, also of Caribbean-African descent, walking into his home and showcasing his agricultural products. "My family is from Guyana, [...] coming to Ghana, I was able to see exactly where it all started," the man said. "I didn’t pack patience with me [...] but I learnt that things don’t move at the same pace here, and that’s not a bad thing. It allows you to be more creative," Monty explained. Through his ventures in agriculture and music, Graham aims to leave a legacy in his newly moved home. "The legacy of Cashew Daddy, the legacy of Verses Music – these things will be here long after I’m gone," he added. Ingrid Julie Darin, a French consultant and mother, moved to Ghana with her son to open a pastry shop. "I visited Ghana; it was in December for an orphanage. Then I go back home, and I feel like I think that there is some business opportunity here, and it was very peaceful and respectful," she added. Ghana's Tourism Authority and the Office of Diaspora Affairs have expanded the programme to include 'Beyond the Return', which strengthens relations with diaspora communities. Hundreds of individuals have reportedly been granted citizenship, including individuals from Canada, the UK, and Jamaica."

'Working-class hero' - Manchester bids farewell to boxing legend Ricky Hatton

'Working-class hero' - Manchester bids farewell to boxing legend Ricky Hatton

"Hundreds of people gathered on Friday to pay their final respects to British boxing legend Ricky Hatton in a ceremony in Manchester. Footage shows Hatton's coffin, adorned with white flowers, being carried through the streets of Manchester after a thanksgiving service to celebrate his life and career. World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher can also be seen attending the service. "Richard was a great son of this city, a boxing champion who inspired the lives of thousands of people," the presiding priest said. "I myself have personally enjoyed watching his boxing matches on television." Hatton's close friend described the boxer's rise as 'more like a Rocky story', leading to a 'roller coaster of fabulous nights.' "Richard Hatton MBE was both a sporting icon and a working-class hero," he added. Hatton, who held multiple world titles in both light-welterweight and welterweight divisions and was awarded an MBE for his services to the sport, retired in 2012 with a record of 45 wins and three losses."

‘We may head towards civil war’ - Bangladesh in uproar as thousands of protestors demand fair elections, proportional representation

‘We may head towards civil war’ - Bangladesh in uproar as thousands of protestors demand fair elections, proportional representation

"Thousands of people took to the streets of Dhaka on Friday, demanding that the upcoming general elections be based on the Proportional Representation (PR) method method outlined in the July National Charter. Footage shows protesters marching from the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque after Jummah prayer. Many of them can be seen holding signs and chanting slogans. “In the current context of Bangladesh, holding elections in this country without the implementation of the July Charter, justice and reforms is a suicidal decision,” one of the protesters, Shamim Ahsan, stated, warning: “If the election date is announced without the announcement of the July Charter, we may head towards civil war.” “If elections are held without PR, the same situation will happen again, as we have been tortured and oppressed for the past 54 years, and have repeatedly been champions of corruption,” another protester, Abdullah Yousuf, commented. The other demands reportedly include free, fair, and credible elections, justice for acts of repression and corruption committed by the current government, and banning the activities of the Jatiya Party and other members of the 14-Party Alliance for supporting authoritarianism. On the same day, similar mass rallies were called by Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Andolan, Khilafat Andolan, Khilafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khilafa and other political parties across the country. The 28-page draft, dubbed the July Charter, outlines reforms spanning the constitution, elections, judiciary, public administration, police, and anti-corruption framework, following deadly 2024 protests. On August 5, interim leader Muhammad Yunus announced that national elections would be held in February 2026, marking the first elections in Bangladesh since the uprising last year that deposed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina."