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Black Expats in Ghana: A New Wave of Diaspora Migration Is Shaping Lives

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Ghana’s rise as a preferred destination for African diasporans continues to reshape both its tourism landscape and its global reputation.

A decade after the country launched the landmark “Year of Return” in 2019—a campaign inviting people of African descent to reconnect with their ancestral homeland—Ghana is still experiencing a steady influx of Black expats seeking healing, purpose, and a slower, more grounded way of life.

Reports say an estimated 1,500 Black Americans have relocated since 2020. And in late 2024, the government granted Ghanaian citizenship to more than 500 members of the diaspora, cementing the country’s role as a continental gateway for cultural reconnection.

For many, the draw goes beyond tourism. It’s a quest for belonging.

A New Life Through Food—and Citizenship

When Deijha Gordon left New York City in 2019, burnout had already taken a toll. The post office worker was longing for a change when a 2015 trip to Ghana opened her eyes to a different rhythm of life.

“When I first stepped off the plane, I was amazed by the welcoming atmosphere and culture,” she recalled.

Five years after immigration, Gordon—now a Ghanaian citizen—owns Deijha Vu’s Jerk Hut, a Jamaican food truck that has become a favorite among both locals and tourists. But the journey wasn’t easy. She poured her savings into building a restaurant before the pandemic stalled her progress. When the business faltered, she “had to go back to the drawing board,” ultimately restarting her dream with a food truck.

That decision changed everything. A surprise visit from celebrities including influencer Jessie Woo propelled her business forward—and today she’s planning to franchise, with potential expansion into Nigeria.

Gordon says Ghana forced her to unlearn the “constant pressure to have it all figured out.” What replaced it was a calmer, more communal lifestyle. “In Ghana, people want to help you, even with the little things. I had to learn to accept that.”

Healing in a Place Where “the Weight Falls Off”

For illustrator Nicole Updegraff, Ghana was less a fresh start and more a profound emotional reset. She moved to Accra in 2015 with her family after her husband took a U.S. Embassy assignment—and what she found fundamentally reshaped her understanding of freedom.

“When you grow up in the U.S., there is an armor you have to put on as a Black person,” she said. “Those feelings were gone in Ghana.”

Her years in Accra coincided with nationwide protests in the United States over the police killings of Michael Brown, Philando Castile, Tamir Rice, and others. Watching the news from Ghana, she felt the magnitude of the contrast:

“Being there was more than relief; it was safety.”

Life wasn’t without its challenges—power outages, mosquito nets gone rogue, or adjusting to local rhythms—but she says the community made the transition bearable. A nanny, housekeeper, and gardener became “lifelines” who held her family together. “They became our family.”

Updegraff now lives back in the U.S., but says Ghana imprinted something permanent: “Ghana anchored me as a Black American. It made me feel like I always had a place to go home.”

Ghana as a Tourism and Cultural Haven

As tourism continues to rebound globally, Ghana stands out—not for luxury resorts or tropical beaches alone, but for its cultural gravity. For travelers of African descent seeking reconnection, the country offers more than sightseeing. It offers grounding.

Visitors today can explore everything from bustling markets in Accra to the somber historical sites along the Cape Coast. But increasingly, the country is attracting people interested in long-term stays, community, entrepreneurship, and spiritual restoration.

Advice for Would-Be Movers

Both expats share similar wisdom:

  • Visit first—walk the markets, talk to locals, learn how the city hums.
  • Manage expectations—Ghana is growing, evolving, and wonderfully imperfect.
  • Be open-minded—especially if you’re coming from Western fast-paced cultures.
  • Let go of hyper-independence—community support is woven into daily life.

“Don’t compare it to the places you’ve been,” Updegraff stressed. “That can be a recipe for disappointment.”

A New Kind of Homecoming

A decade after the Year of Return, Ghana’s call to the African diaspora remains strong. For some, the journey offers peace. For others, opportunity. And for many more, it offers the one thing they didn’t realize they were missing: a place that feels like home.

As Gordon put it, “I am not the same person I was a few years ago. Ghana changed my life tremendously.”

For the growing number of Black expats making the move—or dreaming of one—Ghana continues to promise not just travel, but transformation.

Editor’s note: This story has been culled from an article published on Travel Noire. Read the original article here.

Taste GH

Kpokpoi: The Sacred Ga Dish at the Heart of Homowo

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The scent arrives before the bowl does smoky fish, rich palm nut soup, and the warm, slightly sour aroma of fermented corn slowly filling the air as families gather during Homowo season in Ga communities across Ghana.

At the centre of the celebration is Kpokpoi, a beloved maize meal dish deeply woven into the identity of the Ga people.

Soft, hearty, and unmistakably earthy in flavour, Kpokpoi is far more than festival food. It is memory, ritual, and community served on a plate.

Prepared from steamed and fermented corn meal, the dish carries a gentle tang that balances beautifully with the deep, nutty richness of palm soup.

Smoked fish adds another layer — salty, savoury, and intensely aromatic. The result is comforting and bold at once, the kind of meal that lingers long after the final bite.

For many Gas, Kpokpoi is inseparable from Homowo, the annual festival that commemorates triumph over famine and hardship.

During the celebration, families prepare large portions not only to feed relatives and visitors but also to honour ancestors.

The sharing of the meal is believed to strengthen communion between the living, the dead, and ancestral spirits, making food itself part of a sacred cultural exchange.

That spiritual connection gives Kpokpoi a significance beyond taste. In many homes, recipes are passed down through generations, with elders teaching younger family members how to achieve the right texture, fermentation, and balance of flavours.

There is also a quiet nutritional appeal to the dish. Fermented corn is known for aiding digestion, while smoked fish provides protein, and palm nut soup contributes healthy fats and depth of flavour.

For visitors discovering Ghanaian cuisine for the first time, Kpokpoi offers something rare: a dish that tells a story with every spoonful.

It speaks of resilience, heritage, celebration, and the enduring power of gathering around food.

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Travel

The Travel Rules Quietly Followed by the Ultra-Rich

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Some travellers announce themselves the moment they arrive. Others move through airports, hotels, and unfamiliar cities with quiet ease, leaving almost no trace except good impressions.

According to a growing stream of travel advice circulating online, the difference often has less to do with money and more to do with habits.

The latest version of that conversation comes packaged as “seven unwritten travel rules every billionaire follows” — a list that has sparked debate among frequent travellers, luxury hospitality workers, and social media users alike.

But beneath the glamour of private-jet imagery and expensive hotel lobbies lies something more practical: a philosophy of travel rooted in preparation, awareness, and respect.

The first rule is simple: travel light. The idea is that experienced travellers avoid checking luggage whenever possible, relying instead on a carry-on and a garment bag.

Beyond convenience, seasoned travellers say it reduces delays, lost baggage stress, and unnecessary clutter. In an era of crowded airports and unpredictable flight schedules, efficiency has become its own form of luxury.

Appearance also plays a role. “Dress for the destination before you arrive,” the advice says, discouraging overly casual airport fashion.

For business travellers especially, the logic is straightforward: airports are networking spaces, and first impressions can happen anywhere — from an airline lounge to the hotel transfer line.

Then comes language. Learning a few phrases in the local tongue — “please,” “thank you,” and “good evening” — may sound minor, but travellers who do it often say it changes how they are received.

In Ghana, for instance, a visitor greeting someone in Twi, Dagbani, or Ga is often met with immediate warmth. Across the world, the gesture signals humility and curiosity rather than entitlement.

Food is another marker of experience. The rule advises travellers to avoid restaurants directly beside major tourist attractions, particularly those with oversized picture menus designed for hurried visitors.

Instead, experienced travellers tend to follow crowds of locals, ask taxi drivers for recommendations, or wander a few streets away from the obvious spots.

One of the more controversial suggestions involves tipping before service rather than after. In luxury travel circles, early tipping is seen as a way of building rapport with hotel staff and improving service from the outset.

Critics, however, argue that the practice reflects inequality within hospitality culture. Supporters insist it is less about showing off wealth and more about recognising service workers respectfully and early.

Privacy also features heavily in modern travel etiquette. Many affluent travellers avoid posting their locations in real time, waiting until after they leave a destination before uploading photos online. In an age shaped by digital oversharing, privacy itself has become increasingly valuable.

Perhaps the most meaningful rule is the final one: always know a local. Not a tour brochure or an online review, but a real person who understands the rhythms of the city.

That connection often leads travellers toward experiences no algorithm can predict — a hidden food spot in Tamale, a quiet beach near Busua, or a family-run café tucked inside a side street in Lisbon.

For many readers, the appeal of these “billionaire rules” is not really about wealth at all. It is about travelling thoughtfully, moving respectfully through unfamiliar places, and understanding that the best journeys are rarely built around status.

They are built around awareness.

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Taste GH

How Chef Abby Took Ghanaian Food Culture Across London

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When Chef Abby announced that she was finally back in Ghana after an emotional and exhausting UK tour, her excitement was impossible to miss.

Beneath the tired voice was the joy of a Ghanaian creative who had just spent days carrying the flavours of home across some of London’s biggest cultural spaces.

A Ghanaian Culinary Journey Across London

The celebrated Ghanaian food content creator described the tour as one of the biggest moments of her career so far.

From official meetings with Ghanaian diplomats to cooking inside global tech offices, Chef Abby’s trip became more than a food tour — it was a cultural showcase.

One of the standout moments was her meeting with Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, Her Excellency Zita Okaikoi, whom Chef Abby described as an inspiring woman.

She was also invited to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where she watched a live match and explored the stadium’s food culture before teaming up with football star Kevin Danso to prepare a Ghanaian dish.

Bringing Ghanaian Food to Global Platforms

The tour opened doors into spaces rarely associated with Ghanaian cuisine. Chef Abby revealed that she visited the London headquarters of TikTok, met UK and Ghanaian officials, and even taught children in a London school about Ghanaian food traditions.

She also introduced popular creators Josh Pieters and Oli White — widely known as Josh and Oli — to Ghanaian flavours during the tour.

Among the most touching moments for the chef was leading a menu takeover at Snap Inc., where she prepared Ghanaian dishes for staff members before joining a panel discussion afterwards.

More Than Food

Chef Abby’s UK experience also included visits to YouTube and Google offices, collaborations with chefs, documentary screenings, and her first international brunch featuring Ghanaian-Caribbean fusion dishes.

By the end of the tour, it became clear that Chef Abby was not simply serving meals. She was serving stories, identity, and a modern Ghanaian food culture, increasingly finding its place on the global stage.

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