BY USMAN MAMA

Like the rest of the world, Africans and African Americans living in Africa have mourned George Floyd. The government of Ghana, in conjunction with the Diaspora African Forum—a diplomatic mission in Ghana—held a special ceremony at the iconic W.E.B. DuBois Centre, in the West African nation’s capital, Accra.

The ceremony, held on Friday, kicked off with a message from the president of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, read by an official:

“Black people, the world over, are shocked and distraught by the killing of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, by a white police officer in the United States of America. It carried with it an all-too painful familiarity, and an ugly reminder. It cannot be right that, in the 21 st century, the United Staes, this great bastion of democracy, continues to grapple with the problem of systemic racism.”

The president’s message went on:

“On behalf of the people of Ghana, I express my deep condolences to the family and loved ones of George Floyd. We stand with our kith and kin in America in these difficult and trying times, and we hope that the unfortunate, tragic death of George Floyd will inspire a lasting change in how America confronts head-on the problems of hate and racism.”

In a long message, the first speaker during the ceremony proper, Rabi Halvi Kohan, Executive Director of Panafest, stated:

“We stand here today in Accra, Ghana, West Africa, sending a message of solidarity to let you know that your brothers and sisters here in mother Africa stand with you during this season. Not only do we stand with the family of George Floyd, but we stand with all the families who still mourn for their lost loved ones. We stand with the whole struggle of African Americans and Africans in all parts of the diaspora who had their human dignity disrespected and disgraced and their human life snuffed out in many different forms.”

He went on:

“So we today send out our voice. The womb of mother Africa cried out for her sons and daughters, and we cry out in solidarity to know that we are one people. The government of Ghana, the people of Ghana, the people of Africa stand with you. And that the message we want you to know today, that you are not alone. You don’t mourn alone, you don’t cry alone, and you don’t stand alone. We stand together as one people.”

Ambassador Erieka Bennett, head of mission and founder of the Diaspora African Forum, stated for her part:

“When you have a son or a daughter in America who wakes up everyday and is fearful of the police, is fearful of the justice system in America, it is difficult not to cry. Giana, the six-year-old daughter of George Perry Floyd, said “Daddy will change the world.”And Daddy is changing the world.”

Ambassador Bennett’s short but poignant words were followed by the unveiling of a wall on which was inscribed the name George Floyd. The ambassador told The African on the phone that the names of other victims of police brutality in America will follow.

The Diaspora African Forum, an initiative endorsed by the African Union which serves as a platform for Blacks in the Diaspora to return to Africa or make substantial contributions at home in Africa, was officially inaugurated on July 7, 2007 by then-Ghanaian president John Kufuor and then-chairman of the African Union and previously president of Mali, Alpha Oumar Konaré. Scores of distinguished guests from the Diaspora attended the historic event. DAF was established on the historic W.E.B. DuBois Centre land grant generously provided by the government of Ghana to the African Diaspora, with protocols signed by the current president of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, during his term as Ghana’s minister of Foreign Affairs.

The somber ceremony began and ended with a mourning music played by flutes.