Correspondence from the Eastern Region

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Jamaica, Kamina Johnson Smith, has paid a royal homecoming visit to the Palace of the Okuapehene at Akropong Akuapem in the Eastern Region, four years after being enstooled as the Abode-Nsrahwe Hemea, also known as the Queen Mother of Tourism-Diaspora.

The historic visit, hosted by Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III and the chiefs and people of Okuapemman, reaffirmed the enduring cultural and ancestral ties between Ghana and the African diaspora, particularly Jamaica..

The ceremony, held at the Okuapehene’s Palace in Akropong Akuapem in the Eastern Region, attracted several dignitaries, traditional leaders, tourism stakeholders, and members of the African diaspora who gathered to celebrate the strengthening relations between the two countries through culture, diplomacy, tourism, and economic cooperation.

As part of the colourful traditional rites, the Jamaican Foreign Minister was adorned with beads, batakari, and other traditional regalia in a symbolic display of honour, royalty, and cultural acceptance by the Akuapem traditional authorities.

Welcoming the Jamaican delegation, the Okuapehene described the visit as a significant moment in reconnecting people of African descent with their ancestral roots.

“It gives me great honour and joy to receive my daughter back home after four long years,” he said. “We have followed her work and her commitment to humanity through foreign policy and trade, and we are proud of what she continues to achieve.”



The Okuapehene further emphasized the importance of diaspora engagement in the development of Africa, urging Africans in the diaspora to reconnect with their roots and invest in the continent.

“I believe the diaspora is the new direction now. We all need to find our way back home and reconnect with our heritage and opportunities,” he stated.

He also highlighted the longstanding historical and cultural connections between Akuapem and Jamaica, noting that the relationship between the two peoples remains strong despite geographical distance.

Addressing the gathering, Kamina Johnson Smith expressed gratitude for the honour bestowed on her by the Akuapem traditional leadership four years ago and pledged to continue strengthening bilateral cooperation between Ghana and Jamaica.

“Since my enstoolment, I have worked to deepen the economic, cultural, and diplomatic ties between Jamaica and Ghana,” she said.

According to her, her visit to Ghana forms part of broader efforts to enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries, especially in the areas of arts, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

The Jamaican Foreign Minister disclosed that she had earlier held discussions with Ghana’s Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Industries, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, on strengthening cultural and tourism partnerships between the two nations.

She also announced plans to advance discussions through the Ghana-Jamaica Joint Commission framework, which she noted had not convened for more than two decades.

“The Commission has not met for 21 years, so we are creating a new history as we re-energise the friendship between our countries,” she stated.

She assured the traditional authorities of her commitment to leveraging her role as Queen Mother of Tourism-Diaspora to promote the interests of Okuapeman and strengthen relations between Ghana and Jamaica.

Meanwhile, Ambassador for the Akuapem Kingdom and Executive Marketing and Public Relations member of the Ghana Tourism Federation, Donnaray Akua Roc, described the gathering as a strategic moment in redefining diaspora relations beyond symbolic connections.

She said efforts were underway to institutionalise partnerships between Jamaica, Ghana, and the wider African diaspora through the “Renaissance Bridge Framework,” an initiative aimed at promoting cultural and economic integration.



According to her, the framework seeks to create secure and transparent pathways for diaspora investment, trade partnerships, and sustainable development between West Africa and Caribbean nations.

“We are standing at the beginning of a new era of bilateral cooperation that will transform cultural reconnection into measurable economic growth and opportunity for future generations,” she stated.

The event formed part of ongoing efforts by the Akuapem traditional leadership to deepen diaspora engagement and position Akuapem as a key destination for cultural heritage tourism and international partnerships.