Ambassador Lennox Francis Franklin, Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to Ethiopia has expressed disappointment in the fact that the permanent commission responsible to implement the objectives of the International Decade of The People of African Descent(IDPAD), is not yet established , after the UN General Assembly in 2019.
His Excellency Ambassador Lennox Francis Franklin aka Kwame Mwalimu Frank I Tafari now enstooled by the Ga Sowutuom Chieftaincy as Nii Ayeh Osabu Mpese 1 , made this known at the Kpando Technical Institute while delivering his keynote address to participants of the 5th National Rastafari Conference on the 2nd of March 2020. He called on African governments, the Rastafari movement and all well meaning Africans across the globe to add their voices to the conversations involving the implementation of the demands of IDPAD.
The President of the Rastafari Council of Ghana and chairman of the Rastafari Continental Council, Ahuma Bosco Ocansey in his address implored Rastafari youth in Ghana to “grab education” in their quest to play a fruitful role in the “Beyond The Year Of Return” program. He congratulated President Akuffo Addo for institutionalizing the program and also called on parliament to accelerate the process of passing the new Narcotics Bill into law. He also called on the Traditional Leaders to support the program by offering land to foster settlement and integration of the families from the diaspora. He entreated the general public and political parties to ensure a peaceful election year, and keep Ghana as the peace beacon of Africa.
Gracing the occasion was the Traditional leader of Sowutuom and Noyaa Mantse of the Ga Traditional Area, Nii Osabu Akwei I and the Mpese Chief Nii Ayeh Mpese Congo I .
The conference was attended by 100 participants from Ghana, South Africa, Germany and the USA.
Sena Dogbe
