In a coastal stretch of Ghana marked by some of the darkest chapters of the transatlantic slave trade, an African American entrepreneur has built something defiantly hopeful: a four-star luxury resort rooted in healing, history, and homecoming.
Mona Boyd, who moved from the United States to Ghana more than 30 years ago, is the owner of AnoMansa Beach Resort, a boutique oceanfront property situated just minutes from the storied Elmina and Cape Coast Castles.
For millions across the African diaspora, these castles — and their infamous “Doors of No Return” — symbolize the forced separation of enslaved Africans from their homeland.
Boyd sees her resort not as an escape from that history, but as a bridge back to it.
“When I stood on this land after the resort’s completion, I was quite emotional,” she told Black Enterprise. “Knowing that some of my ancestors may have passed through the ‘Door of No Return’ just six miles away, I felt that my family’s journey had come full circle.”
A Homecoming Built on Vision and Purpose
Boyd is already a well-established figure in Ghana’s business community, owning Landtours Ghana, Avis Rent a Car, and Budget Rent a Car. With AnoMansa, her ambition goes beyond hospitality.
“My goal is for guests to leave feeling more centered, reconnected, and energized than when they arrived,” she said.
The resort’s 36 rooms marry contemporary elegance with subtle Ghanaian design, offering sweeping views of the Atlantic. Two gourmet restaurants spotlight farm-to-table dining built around ingredients sourced from Ghana’s coastal plains and inland farms. The bar and lounge — perched above crashing waves — hosts live bands and traditional drumming sessions that immerse guests in Ghana’s rhythm and artistic spirit.
Luxury With Roots and Responsibility
At AnoMansa, luxury is paired with introspection. Boyd’s team offers yoga, meditation, massages, guided hikes, and water sports, all designed to restore both body and spirit. Educational talks and cultural performances provide deeper context for the region’s history and resilience.
“AnoMansa Beach Resort fills a long-standing gap for travelers seeking a higher level of service, authenticity, and comfort in this historic region,” Boyd said. “It’s where luxury meets purpose — where every guest becomes part of a story of renewal.”
Why This Story Resonates With Americans
Ghana has become a major destination for African Americans tracing their roots, particularly since the country’s 2019 “Year of Return” campaign. Tourism from the U.S. has surged, driven by travelers seeking cultural reconnection, healing, and historical understanding.
AnoMansa arrives at a moment when diaspora travel is reshaping relationships between the U.S. and Africa — not only through tourism, but through investment, entrepreneurship, and community-building.
For visitors standing at the water’s edge, where millions were taken from the continent, Boyd’s resort offers a counter-narrative: one of return, dignity, and self-determination.
