Ghana Fails to Secure Black Travel Summit as Benin Wins Hosting Rights for 2027

Benin is positioning itself as a major destination for African diaspora tourism after securing the opportunity to host the 2027 Black Travel Summit in Cotonou, a development that could intensify competition with Ghana for visitors of African descent seeking to reconnect with the continent.

The announcement marks another step in Benin’s efforts to strengthen its tourism industry, attract international travellers and promote its historical connections with the African diaspora.

According to a report published in The Hawk Newspaper on Thursday, October 22, 2026, the summit will be held in Cotonou, making Benin the first African country to host the international event.

The development is being viewed as a significant boost for Benin, which has been expanding its tourism ambitions and seeking to establish itself as a leading destination for cultural, historical and heritage tourism.

The Black Travel Summit brings together entrepreneurs, travel professionals, content creators, cultural advocates and members of the African diaspora to explore tourism opportunities, business partnerships and connections with Africa.

Benin’s selection comes at a time when Ghana has established itself as one of the continent’s best-known destinations for diaspora tourism, particularly following the launch of the Year of Return initiative in 2019.

Ghana’s Year of Return campaign, launched in 2019, marked 400 years since the first enslaved Africans arrived in Virginia, United States, in 1619.

The initiative encouraged members of the African diaspora to visit Ghana, reconnect with their ancestral roots and explore the country’s historical sites, particularly the forts and castles associated with the transatlantic slave trade.

The campaign attracted international attention and helped position Ghana as a leading destination for heritage tourism.

It was followed by the Beyond the Return initiative, which sought to sustain the momentum by encouraging members of the diaspora to establish lasting relationships with Ghana through investment, business, cultural exchanges and other activities.

These initiatives helped strengthen Ghana’s international tourism profile and encouraged visitors to explore the country’s historical landmarks, cultural festivals and hospitality industry.

Benin’s decision to host the Black Travel Summit in 2027 is therefore significant because it places the country in a stronger position to compete for a share of the growing market of diaspora travellers interested in African history and cultural identity.

The summit is expected to bring together entrepreneurs, tourism operators and cultural advocates, creating opportunities for partnerships and exchanges between Africa and its diaspora communities.

Benin’s growing tourism ambitions come as African countries increasingly seek to attract visitors interested in heritage, culture and ancestral connections.

For Ghana, the Year of Return and Beyond the Return campaigns have provided an important foundation for promoting the country internationally.

However, Benin is seeking to build its own identity within the same tourism market by drawing attention to its historical significance, cultural heritage and links to the transatlantic slave trade.

The country has a number of historical attractions that could appeal to visitors exploring the history of slavery and the African diaspora.

By hosting the Black Travel Summit, Benin will have an opportunity to showcase its tourism products to an international audience and encourage visitors to consider destinations beyond those that have traditionally dominated African diaspora tourism.

The event could also create opportunities for local businesses, hotels, tour operators, restaurants, cultural organisations and transport providers to benefit from increased visitor numbers.

For Ghana, the development presents a reminder that the success of the Year of Return cannot be sustained through historical recognition alone. Continued investment in tourism infrastructure, cultural experiences, heritage preservation and international marketing will be important in maintaining the country’s competitive position.

Beyond tourism, Benin has taken steps to strengthen its relationship with people of African descent living abroad by introducing a citizenship pathway for members of the diaspora who can establish qualifying ancestral links to the country.

According to the newspaper report, approximately 155 members of the African diaspora were sworn in as Ghanaian citizens in March 2026 after completing a process connected to Ghana’s diaspora citizenship programme.

The report contrasts Ghana’s approach with Benin’s efforts to make citizenship more accessible to people seeking to reconnect with their ancestral homeland.

In Benin, the initiative is linked to a law adopted in September 2024 that establishes a framework for granting Beninese nationality to descendants of Africans deported during the transatlantic slave trade.

The newspaper reported that three people were officially recognised in July 2025: Wilson Ciara Princess, Joseph Gabendy and Esmeralda David Romuald.

It further reported that French broadcaster Claudy Siar received Beninese nationality in Ouidah, a historic coastal town associated with the slave trade, in May 2026.

The initiative reflects Benin’s efforts to strengthen its connections with the African diaspora through formal recognition of ancestral ties.

However, the process has also generated debate over eligibility requirements, application procedures and the costs involved.

The newspaper report noted that a commentary published in April raised concerns about the citizenship process, with nearly 2,000 members of the diaspora reportedly expressing interest.

Of that number, only about 150 were said to have qualified.

The commentary questioned the financial and administrative requirements associated with the process, including application fees and other expenses.

It argued that the costs could make the initiative more accessible to wealthy applicants than to ordinary members of the diaspora seeking to reconnect with their ancestral homeland.

The concerns raise broader questions about how African countries can balance the need for transparent citizenship procedures with the desire to make diaspora engagement more inclusive.

For countries pursuing heritage tourism, citizenship programmes can provide a means of encouraging deeper connections with international communities of African descent. However, their success may depend on the accessibility, transparency and credibility of the application process.

Benin has also sought to simplify its citizenship process by introducing DNA testing as a means of helping applicants establish African ancestry.

According to the report, applicants can undergo testing through La Nouvelle Tribune, an organisation identified in the newspaper as facilitating the process.

The report said the organisation’s founder, Mr Siar, confirmed that the test had been scrapped.

This development was presented as part of Benin’s effort to make the process easier for applicants seeking recognition of their ancestral connections.

The use of DNA testing in diaspora citizenship programmes has the potential to provide additional evidence of ancestry, although genetic testing alone cannot necessarily establish a person’s connection to a particular country or determine legal eligibility for citizenship.

The effectiveness of such programmer ultimately depends on the legal framework, documentation requirements and procedures adopted by the relevant authorities.

The country has also established Benin Influence, an organisation designed to promote Benin’s image and encourage engagement with diaspora communities around the world.

The organisation is expected to contribute to Benin’s international visibility by promoting its culture, history and tourism opportunities.

Such initiatives could complement the Black Travel Summit by helping the country build relationships with travel professionals, cultural organisations, entrepreneurs and members of the diaspora.

The strategy reflects a broader effort to present Benin not only as a destination for short visits but also as a country with which members of the diaspora can establish lasting cultural, economic and personal relationships.

For Ghana, which has spent several years promoting itself as a destination for people of African descent, Benin’s approach signals the growing importance of coordinated tourism promotion and sustained diaspora engagement.

The newspaper report argued that Ghana still has a major advantage in diaspora tourism because of the recognition built through the Year of Return and Beyond the Return initiatives.

However, it warned that Benin is moving with purpose by combining its citizenship initiative with a dedicated diaspora organisation and international tourism promotion.

The central question is whether Ghana can maintain its position as a leading destination for diaspora travellers while other African countries develop similar programmer.

Ghana has already established an international reputation through its historical sites, cultural festivals and diaspora-focused tourism initiatives. Maintaining that position, however, will require sustained attention to the quality of visitor experiences, tourism infrastructure, heritage preservation and the ease with which visitors can engage with local communities.

Benin’s selection to host the 2027 Black Travel Summit provides an opportunity for the country to attract international attention and strengthen its tourism industry.

It could also encourage greater competition among African destinations to develop more attractive programmes for members of the diaspora.

Ultimately, the competition may benefit travellers if it leads to better tourism services, stronger cultural exchanges and greater investment in heritage sites across the continent.

For Ghana, the challenge will be to build on the achievements of the Year of Return and Beyond the Return while ensuring that the country continues to offer compelling reasons for visitors to choose Ghana over emerging destinations.

With Benin preparing to welcome the Black Travel Summit to Cotonou in 2027, the contest for the attention of the African diaspora is becoming increasingly competitive.