A Pan-African Historical Theatre Festival (PANAFEST) Ambassador, Roy Gramps Morgan, has asked the government to set up an embassy in Jamaica.
He has also suggested the opening of a Jamaican Embassy in Ghana to facilitate international relationships between the two countries and the facilitation of the homecoming of people of African origin.
Gramps Morgan, who is a 2016 Grammy Award winner with the music album titled “Strictly Roots”, was speaking in an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic when he arrived in the country last Wednesday.
Passion, desire
Morgan said he did not know what led to his nomination as a PANAFEST ambassador, but was happy to be home.
“I bring desire and passion to bear on carrying out the message of PANAFEST,” he said.
Morgan added that he had also come to share his musical experience with the youth of the country although he had not scheduled any concerts.
Another skill he wanted to share with the youth of the country was the fact that farming pays.
“Farming is a great way to go,” he said, adding that the youth of Ghana had to imbibe that and get into that profession and master it for its benefits.
PANAFEST
Morgan said he first heard about PANAFEST in the late 1990s when former President Jerry John Rawlings visited Jamaica.
He said PANAFEST was as relevant today as it was when it was created because it created an opportunity for all of African descent, whether black or white, to acknowledge where they came from and touch base with their tradition and culture.
For him, PANAFEST also afforded the opportunity for all to recognize their racial and ethnic connections.
“Home is home and there is no place like home.”
Change
Morgan said Ghanaians had to change their mentality about themselves and what they could do.
That, for him, was the greatest challenge currently facing Ghanaians.
He said all nationals migrated but always retraced their steps home to create something of value there.
Thus, Ghanaians had to look within themselves and find the power to achieve and build the country.
Gramps thanked his fans in Ghana who had voted for him to win a Grammy in 2016 with the album “Strictly Roots”, which was adjudged the best reggae album.
The reggae artist was unveiled on May 23 as an ambassador for the 2017 PANAFEST.
He was nominated and he accepted to be the brand ambassador of PANAFEST for the diaspora for this year which marks the 25th anniversary of the yearly event currently ongoing in Cape Coast and other places.
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