Ghana to host International Rastafari Conference

Ghana is to host the 2^nd Rastafari Continental Council Conference in Koforidua at the Oyinka Hotel from May 22 – 25. The conference is expected to be attended by Rastafari from all over the world to deliberate on the contribution of Rastafari to the development of the continent. The theme for the conference is “Rastafari and African Unity.”

According to the Chairman of the Rastafari Continental Council and President of the Rastafari Council, Ghana, Ahuma Bosco Ocansey aka Daddy Bosco, “We are expecting over 100 Rastafari in Ghana from all over the world with over half of that number expected from the African continent with delegates from around the world. There will also be representation by Rastafari from all over Ghana.”

He added that the Guest of Honor for the conference will be Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ambassador Franklyn “King Frank-I” Francis who will deliver a speech at the conference with the keynote address by Empress Marina Blake, the Chairperson for the Haile Selassie Foundation for Law and Society (HSFFLS). Empress Marina Blake is the President and former Co-Chair of the Foundation.

He indicated that the conference will look at a number of issues of interest to Rastafari including the spate of harassment of Rastafari in parts of Africa, the development of a continental blueprint for the development of Rastafari and the contribution of Rastafari to African development.

The Rastafari Continental Council was established in Shashamane, Ethiopia in November 2017 objectives including the provision of Rastafari continental governance, administration and legislation of Rastafari affairs on the African continent and the African diaspora or briefly to become Rastafari governance, administrative and legislative council on the continent; to safeguard the Rastafari way of life, liberty and prosperity in the African continent by promoting continental free movement and Intra-Africa Trade among the continental and diaspora Rastafari Community.

The Council is also to advocate for the civil, cultural and faith rights of Rastafari in all African countries and engage their respective governments on their behalf to agitate even for the rights of those incarcerated for immigration offences on the basis of the right of return.

The conference is supported by the Black Star Line Cooperative Credit Union, Mikesh Natural Products and the Rastafari Council, Ghana. The first edition of the conference was held in Cape Town, South Africa last year.

(Source: Ahuma Bosco Ocansey)