Ghanaian royal urges direct Africa-Caribbean links to rebuild shared ties

A historic direct flight from Ghana to Barbados this week has renewed calls for sustained transport links between Africa and the Caribbean, with a visiting Ghanaian royal urging both regions to establish “air and sea bridges” as part of a wider mission to reclaim their shared destiny.

Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II made the call at a forum – Reclaiming Our Atlantic Destiny: Connect. Build. Renew – at the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill. The Asantehene, ceremonial ruler of the historic Ashanti Empire, said meaningful reconnection depends on removing long‑standing barriers to travel and engagement.

The Asantehene noted that travel between Africa and the Caribbean has long been constrained by routes that force passengers through Europe, describing the direct charter flight from Accra to Barbados earlier this week as an important and overdue step.

“A direct flight can take a shorter time and be more convenient,” he said, commending Prime Minister Mia Mottley, “who has rightly and proudly described herself as a daughter of Africa” for calling for “the construction of air and sea bridges between Africa and the Caribbean.”

The monarch and his delegation arrived here on Tuesday on an historic direct flight from Ghana, ahead of the GUBA 2025 Investment Conference and Awards.

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way. God helps those who help themselves,” he said, adding that greater determination and coordination could turn geographic proximity into genuine connectivity and promote cultural tourism.

The Asantehene said the wider mission begins with connection — linking Africa and its diaspora through education, culture and direct engagement.

“The first important step of our mission is to connect – to bridge the divide between Africa and the African diaspora,” he said. “We must break the silence that has surrounded our shared history and actively strive to build the unbreakable bridge that has been missing for centuries.”

He said confronting the trauma of enslavement, colonisation and racism is necessary if both regions are to move forward, and urged greater use of academic exchanges, cultural partnerships and diaspora‑led initiatives in areas such as health, agriculture and finance. Schools and universities, he added, should help “educate people about Africa within Caribbean communities and vice versa.”

He said the second imperative is “to build with a renewed sense of purpose,” stressing that economic cooperation benefits both regions.

“We have a tremendous opportunity to translate our shared cultural identity into tangible economic power,” he told the audience.

The Asantahene called for new trade corridors that bypass traditional routes tied to former colonial systems and noted that Africa-Caribbean trade remains far below potential, with bilateral exports “never surpassing six per cent.”

He pointed to the African Union’s 2006 decision designating the African diaspora as the continent’s “sixth region,” describing it as a practical tool for cooperation rather than a symbolic gesture.

He also highlighted Afreximbank’s role in supporting development across CARICOM, including its US$2.5bn ($5bn) portfolio in areas such as infrastructure, climate adaptation and SME financing, and noted that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could strengthen Africa’s negotiating position and expand opportunities for both regions.

“Finance is the oxygen of development,” he said, urging both sides to find creative ways to mobilise resources.

The monarch closed by calling for stronger institutions, unity and long‑term cooperation, adding: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. Let us ensure the Atlantic no longer symbolises a barrier but a vibrant, living connection – an unbreakable bridge between our people. The time for action is now.”

Founded in the late 1600s, the Ashanti Empire emerged as a formidable force in West Africa, wielding considerable influence through its sophisticated political structure and military prowess.

The empire, centred in Kumasi in present‑day Ghana, developed an elaborate system of governance that balanced royal authority with powerful councils and traditions rooted in communal consensus.

Its economy was driven by trade in gold, kola nuts and other resources, and the Ashanti were also famed for their contributions to art, architecture and mythology.

In the face of repeated colonial incursions and eventual British annexation, the empire endures in its rich cultural heritage and as a symbol of African resilience.

(SM)