The long-standing relationship between the Ablekuma Joma Zongo community and members of the African diaspora received another significant boost on Sunday, September 27, 2026, as a delegation of African-American educators, academics and community leaders returned to Ghana to strengthen cultural ties and support educational development in the community.
The delegation, which arrived through the A2MEND African American Male Education Network and Development, participated in activities linked to the All African Diaspora Education Summit: From Colonization to Sovereignty, an international platform that promotes collaboration between Africans on the continent and those in the diaspora.
Over the years, participants of the summit have visited selected Ghanaian communities where they are welcomed into traditional families and given indigenous names as a symbol of cultural reconnection and belonging. One of the communities that has embraced this initiative is Ablekuma Joma Zongo, where the Chief, Kinkanku Sarki Musah Nsoh, together with his elders, has led efforts to foster lasting relationships with diaspora visitors.
This year’s ceremony saw 32 members of the diaspora receive traditional Frafra names, reaffirming their connection to the people and culture of the Upper East Region heritage represented within the Ablekuma Joma community.
Among the distinguished visitors were Dr. Joyce C. Ester, President of Governors State University in the United States, who was previously enskinned as a Queen Mother and given the name Pognaba Abolgama Lamisi Maletinga. Since receiving her traditional title, Dr. Ester has maintained close ties with the community and has continued to support the education of vulnerable children.
During the latest visit, Dr. Ester paid school fees for several needy students, continuing assistance she began while in the United States. Her contribution has enabled a number of children to remain in school and pursue their education without interruption.
Also returning to the community were Dr. Chike Akua, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at Clark Atlanta University, and his wife, Willette Akua, Founder of Seba Academy LLC and an advocate for African-centered education. Dr. Akua, who was previously honoured with the traditional title Naba Amaletinga, and Mrs. Akua, known traditionally as Napoka Anabamah, brought educational supplies and learning materials to support students and teachers.
In a major boost for science education, Dr. Joyce Ester, Dr. Chike Akua and Willette Akua jointly provided science equipment and instructional materials to Orchards International School, helping the institution establish and strengthen its science department.
The delegation also donated books, pens, pencils and other educational materials to students, offering practical support to enhance teaching and learning.
Community members described the donations as a demonstration of the genuine commitment the diaspora leaders have shown since becoming part of the community through the traditional naming programme.
The ceremony also witnessed the enskinment of Dr. Addie Ellis, Professor of Psychology at Folsom Lake College in Sacramento, CA.Addie Ellis as Development Queen Mother, receiving the traditional title Tin Malgo Pognaba Atipoka Talata. Community leaders expressed confidence that her new role would further strengthen development partnerships between the diaspora and the people of Ablekuma Joma Zongo.
Addressing the gathering, the Kinkanku Sarki Musah Nsoh thanked the delegation for their continued support and dedication to improving educational opportunities for children in the community. He paid special tribute to Dr. Joyce Ester, Dr. Chike Akua and Willette Akua for their sustained commitment to the welfare of students and families.
The Chief appealed for continued collaboration, noting that the community and Orchards International School still face significant educational challenges. Among the priority needs identified is the establishment of a modern library to improve access to books, research materials and digital learning resources for students.
He also requested for support for vulnerable children in the school and community especially those in the north. The Upper East Region in particular who can afford to pay for the school fees.
He emphasized that the traditional names bestowed upon members of the diaspora are rooted in the Frafra language and culture, symbolizing acceptance, kinship and a shared responsibility for the future development of the community.
For residents of Ablekuma Joma Zongo, the return of their diaspora chiefs and queen mothers was not only a cultural celebration but also a powerful reminder of how reconnecting with ancestral heritage can create lasting partnerships that transform lives through education and community development.
Story by Osman Issah Abadoo
