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Akufo-Addo thanks Boris Kodjoe and Bozoma Saint John in SoNA address

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has lauded actor Boris Kodjoe and international marketing executive Bozoma Saint John for the key roles they played in making Ghana’s Year of Return a success.

The ‘Year of Return, Ghana 2019’, was a major initiative inviting the Global African family, home and abroad, to mark 400 years of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Jamestown, Virginia.

Many Africans in the diaspora including Hollywood celebrities visited the country during the year-long event, however, Kodjoe and Saint John came up for special mention during President Akufo-Addo’s State of the Nation Address on Thursday, February 20, 2020.

President Akufo-Addo applauded the two African Americans, saying that they embraced their Ghanaian heritage and played a key role in the effort to build lasting bridges between Ghana and the African American community.

“I shall thank two people in particular, who have embraced their Ghanaian heritage and have played a key role in our effort to build lasting bridges between Ghana and African Americans. Hollywood star Boris Kodjoe and international marketing icon Bozoma Saint John,” President Akufo-Addo said.

“We are grateful to both of them for leveraging their star power to attract thousands to the land of their fathers and to drive a fresh narrative that says, Ghana is a land of opportunity, visit, invest and make it your home. We appreciate deeply their contribution and that of many others to the success of this project”.

Boris Kodjoe in late 2018 brought to Ghana 40 of his friends in Hollywood after the government’s announcement on the commencement of the Year of Return.

They included his wife, Nicole Ari Parker, Micheal Jai White, Tina Knowles-Lawson, Anthony Anderson, Idris Elba, Naomi Campbell, Rosario Dawson, Jidenna, Ebro Darden, Gabourey Sidibe, Cynthia Bailey, Bozoma Saint John, Jay Morrison, and Mike Hill.

These celebs toured various tourist sites in Ghana including visiting former slave sites like the Elmina Castle.

Micheal Jai White was installed enstooled as chief in Akwamu in the Eastern Region of Ghana by the Akwamuhene Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III at the Bogyawe Palace, Akwamufie.

He was given the stool name Odupong— literally meaning ‘a tree firmly rooted’ during a traditional ceremony.

Boris Kodjoe was also conferred a citation for “leading our kinsmen home” by the Akwamuhene.

Their presence in the country attracted many Hollywood stars including Steve Harvey, Samuel L Jackson, Conan O’Brien, Ludacris, rapper TI, his wife Tiny and many stars to visit the country.

Source: Ghana Diaspora Recruiter