Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Amiss Thomas Mitchell, has revealed a deeply personal connection to Ghana, tracing his maternal ancestry to the Akan people.

Speaking during his official visit to Accra, he described his trip as a symbolic “homecoming” and emphasised the shared heritage and future between Africa and the Caribbean.

“In July, at the African Bank Conference, I revealed that my DNA ancestry on my maternal side traces back to the Akan people of Ghana. So I think the akwabaa (welcome) I received yesterday truly feels like a homecoming,” Prime Minister Mitchell said.

“I’ve also been told that as much as 75 percent of Grenadians can trace their ancestry to Ghana, which makes this visit even more meaningful.”

He noted that Ghana is the first African country he had officially visited as Prime Minister — a choice he described as both “natural and deliberate”.

“It’s about using the ocean not as a divider, but as a bridge,” he stated.

“We in the Caribbean must reconnect deliberately with our African roots — politically, socially, culturally, and economically.”

Prime Minister Mitchell stressed the importance of trade as a driver of shared prosperity, contrasting the transatlantic slave trade’s dark legacy with the potential for fair, forward-looking economic cooperation today.

“While we welcome dialogue and diplomacy, we must also act on trade. Trade once caused immense suffering through the transatlantic slave trade, but today it must become a source of empowerment — progressive, deliberate, and focused on improving the lives of our citizens,” he said.

The Grenadian leader expressed deep appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for hosting him and his delegation, acknowledging the Ghanaian president’s demanding travel schedule.

“I know you’ve just returned from China, and for you to make time for this visit means a lot to us,” he remarked.

Prime Minister Mitchell extended a formal invitation to President Mahama to visit Grenada, proposing August 1 — Emancipation Day in the British West Indies — as a symbolic date.

“August 1 marks the official abolition of slavery in the British colonies. This year, we declared it a public holiday to remind our younger generation of its significance,” he said.

“That day represents, in many ways, the birth of our nation—because no nation can truly exist where one human being owns another.”

He concluded by reflecting on the enduring bond between Africa and its diaspora, saying the collaboration between Ghana and Grenada serves as both a bridge to the past and a promise for the future.