Transatlantic Family Reunification Day to Hold in Ghana in December

Africans in the diaspora are set to inaugurate the first Transatlantic Family Reunification Day in Ghana on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, marking the historic significance of the date and honoring the memory of those lost to the transatlantic slave trade.

The event, initiated by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, will take place in Ghana, West Africa, with a variety of cultural and commemorative activities.

The day reflects on what has been described as “the barbaric raids, capture, trade, transportation, molestation, and enslavement of over 12 million sons and daughters of Africa between the 1500s and 1860s”—a dark era that fractured families, erased cultural identities, and stripped millions of their dignity. As Dr. Matthew Narh Tetteh, former youth affairs advisor to Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, once warned, “A nation that forgets its history is doomed to repeat the mistake of the past.”

This commemorative event also recognizes the pilgrimage of Mayor Eric Adams to his ancestral homeland before assuming office as the 110th Mayor of New York City.

A Transatlantic Family Reunification Statue of the mayor will be unveiled at a location personally designated by him as a symbol of reconnection and unity.

Mayor Adams has consistently emphasized the importance of cultural heritage. “When we understand our history, we can better understand ourselves and our place in the world,” he stated. He also stressed the significance of identity, saying, “Our cultural heritage is what makes us who we are. It’s what gives us our identity, our sense of purpose, and our connection to our community.” On Africa’s foundational role, he added, “Africa is the birthplace of humanity, and its rich cultural heritage is a treasure trove of knowledge, wisdom, and creativity.”

The Transatlantic Family Reunification movement seeks to reconnect families and communities divided by centuries of slavery and migration, promoting healing and unity among people of African descent globally. Quoting Malcolm X, the organizers reaffirm, “The main problem that the Afro-Americans have is a lack of cultural identity. It is necessary to teach [people] that they had some type of identity, culture, civilization before they were brought here.”

The December 2 event will feature guided visits to historic sites in Ghana, investment opportunity forums, educational and health exhibitions, traditional cuisine, cultural performances, and panel discussions focused on heritage, history, and healing.

This landmark initiative is being organized in partnership with Daylight Africa Ghana, World Conference of Mayors, Ghana, National Ghana Parade Council of New York, Holistic Migration Consult, George Padmall Research Library, Diaspora Desk in the Office of the President, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Akwamu Traditional Council, W. E. B. Du Bois Center, Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana, Center for Migration Studies, and the Department of History, University of Ghana.

For more information, please contact: Sheikh Musa Drammeh (+1 718 822 5555), Francis Opai Tetteh (+233 553 018 442 / +1 929 346 1404), Catherine Cudjoe (+1 718 708 1086 / minegotiation@gmail.com), Mutiu Olawuyi (+1 718 892 5555 – WhatsApp only), or email info@daylightafrica.org.