F.R.E.E. is dedicated to creating a platform by which the historic town of Elmina will be recognized as an honorable site of remembrance, while highlighting the need for a restorative process to heal from the injustice of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

To understand this mission, one must first understand the history of Elmina:

From historical accounts, the communities in Amankwakrom were already organized prior to the arrival of the Europeans. Its townspeople engaged in vibrant trading in gold, ivory and other commodities with the Arabs and Berbers. Thus, as a trading town, the demography of Elmina consisted of Africans from other parts of the Gold Coast as well as several groups of diverse origins.  While other parts of the West African coast had prior interactions with Europeans in the early parts of the 15th century, the arrival of the Portuguese traders in Amankwakrom in 1471 marked the beginnings of the most impactful period of Afro-European interaction, (15th to 19th century).  At the time of the arrival of the Portuguese, Elmina was controlled by the Eguafo and Fetu.  Recognizing the town was disputed territory, the Portuguese described Amankwakrom as the Village of Two Parts. 

Over time, Amankwakrom was given multiple names by the Portuguese: Mina de Ouro, Costa da mina, the Gold Coast, and finally, Elmina. The town piqued the interest of the Portuguese and a decision was made to construct a trading post at the site. In 1482, the townspeople witnessed and participated in the construction of Sao Jorge da Mina, a fortress with an original purpose of protecting the Portuguese from other Europeans or threatening entities. Sao Jorge da Mina is now known as the Elmina Castle. 

The construction of the Sao Jorge da Mina fortified trading post—designated a city by Lisbon with 500 men to construct, service and defend the trading fortress—was also significant in evolving the blueprint for interactions between Africans and Europeans along the West African coast. It initially served as a trading post for goods then eventually became a major hub in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The exploitation of slaves created wealth for Europeans and significantly impacted the economies and culture of Europe and the “New World” countries, such as the United States.   Many Africans also profited from the practice of slavery. The early Afro-European interactions that blossomed after the arrival of the Portuguese in Amankwakrom significantly shaped Western culture as we know it today. Indeed, the significance of Elmina in world history can neither be ignored, nor forgotten.

It is the goal of F.R.E.E. to mobilize resources in support of remembrance activities. F .R.E.E. wishes to facilitate the preservation and construction of monuments in Elmina that will serve as memorials of the ancestors of all Africans who were victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. It is a prime objective of F.R.E.E. to erect a space of remembrance, akin to the significance of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) in Washington, DC. This establishment in  Elmina will be dedicated to Africans in the diaspora in celebration of the thriving spirit of Africans around the globe.

F.R.E.E. will organize a restorative program dedicated to the people and land of Elmina in the first of its kind, Elmina Freedom Beach Promenade Program (EFBPP).

F.R.E.E. is proud to design and implement the Freedom Beach Promenade Program (EFBPP).  The mission of this program is to bring new life to one of the main spaces in Elmina – it’s expansive beachfront. 

Realizing the EFBPP vision will mobilize resources to address key aspects of thriving communities: African culture, Healthcare, Sanitation, Skills Building, Tourism, Architecture, Personal Development, Performing Arts, among others.  F.R.E.E. wishes to use Elmina as a starting point to educate the world on the cultural impact of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, thereby enabling a new understanding between cultures, and reduction of prejudices and misconceptions that have been the legacy of slavery. We will highlight and celebrate the contributions of people of African descent to world culture and put the nature of cultural interactions in proper context.

F.R.E.E. wishes to enlist the help of the African diaspora, those willing to donate their time and skills to EFBPP. With the help of architects, engineers, town planners and developers, builders, investment bankers, lawyers, financial analysts, as well as individuals in the visual and performing arts, EFBPP will transform the coastline of Elmina as we know it today to a sight of awe and reverence .

F.R.E.E. will facilitate the creation of a pilgrimage site in Elmina for those who wish to establish and nurture a spiritual connection with this “Place of Origin,” as well for those who wish to understand the history of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

F.R.E.E. is dedicated to mobilizing resources to facilitate the creation of an environment that is exceptionally welcoming to Africans in the diaspora, in a place that can be called their “Place of Origin.” It is a goal of F.R.E.E. to be a key provider of local resources and to offer the best experience to Africans in the diaspora who visit Elmina for tourism purposes or those who are on a journey of self-discovery. In addition, F.R.E.E. wishes to provide a platform of inclusivity for those who wish to contribute to the design and creation of this environment, (or “Place of Origin”).

F.R.E.E. is dedicated to providing a platform for promoting cohesion amongst different cultures as we celebrate the diversity that resulted from early African-European cultural interaction.

It is a documented fact that multiple cultural and ethnic groups were complicit in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. While the negative effects of this interaction are undeniable, so too is the fact that this collaboration demonstrated how people of diverse backgrounds can work together towards a common purpose. F.R.E.E. is providing a platform of inclusivity  which will be free of judgment for all peoples, (African, African-American, European, Asian, Jewish, Arabic). F.R.E.E. invites those who want to participate in remembrance and restorative processes to join F.R.E.E. in the promotion of a cohesive world by building bridges between cultures and nationalities.

The African-European interaction that occurred in Elmina after the arrival of the Portuguese in Amankwakrom (Elmina) was significant in the shaping of western culture and its current diverse richness. This cohesion, although threatened by the reaches of interpersonal and structural racism, is a relationship worth noting and celebrating with the explicit goal of deepening these interactions and ties.

F.R.E.E. will promote and engage in economic emancipation initiatives and activities that will positively impact the poverty-stricken areas of Elmina.

Poverty in Elmina is a multi-dimensional construct, resulting from low and irregular incomes, depletion of natural resources, a lack of access to social assets and educational opportunities, and denial of meaningful participation in society .  Therefore, F.R.E.E. is dedicated to providing an opportunity for all interested volunteers to participate in economic emancipation initiatives, including but not limited to those centered on education, training, and data accumulation practices. These activities  are designed to improve the economic prospects for Elmina, and uplifting its people, once and for all.

In collaboration with SIDAF, F.R.E.E. is fueled by its work as we seek to bring true freedom to all. Aligned with the efforts of SIDAF, we too are here to inspire and empower, to leverage the benefits of collaboration and data-based decision making to improve the lives of Elmina natives and Africans around the world. Through effective and sustainable socio-cultural and economic solutions, we will transform the narrative of African possibility and potential.  In doing so, we transform ourselves. We are F.R.E.E. We are all F.R.E.E.