Show Respect to Ghanaians Living Abroad

In some Ghanaian online community forums, talking about Ghanaians living abroad comes with all manner of sarcasm. Common among them include, we don’t pay taxes to deserve to deserve voting. For some persons in Ghana, once you’re living in the West, you’re either sweeping the street or cleaning toilets or perhaps doing some kind of warehouse job. I remember in one forum someone said to me to shut up and go back to the streets to continue my sweeping. These are some of the gloomy images curving in the minds of some Ghanaians. But is there any life in Ghana that has not been touched by Ghanaians living abroad? Do people really know what it means to be living outside the country to Ghana? I’ll take some few lines to hover how resourceful those at the overseas have been to Ghana and continues to be.
First, it’s possible that more than about 50% of people reading this article have a brother, sister, parent or close relative living abroad. The Ghana-aburokyire migration has a long history. In fact it’s not my intention to make historical traces but it’s quiet obvious that such an envious, and I’ll add that, a prestigious journey to the West has effected many homes in Ghana. If I take my hometown Wiamoase as an example, it’s becoming obvious that each house, in some way, has a relative living outside the country. From both my father and mother’s houses, we have about 30 people living outside the country. This tangible turning point in such a family will without any doubt affect the socio-economic life of the family living in Ghana. The first undisputable fact about Ghanaians living abroad is that their families back home are daily transformed in one way or the other.
Second, the basic experience of socio-economic life of the families of Ghanaians living abroad affects also Ghana’s socio-economic health. Ghanaians living abroad send their money home. Many students from the primary to university education levels are beneficiaries of closed relatives living outside the country. And not only relatives, friends ask for help in one kind or the other or to assist them in their educational pursuit. Others are being employed to take care of small businesses established by their relatives and friends living outside. Examples may include second hand tires, boutiques of various kinds, mobile phone shops, retail stores and numerous short and long term business enterprises.
Third, Ghana’s economy will collapse without Ghanaians living abroad. It’s well established that Ghana’s economy is heavily supported by Ghanaians living abroad. Cars, spare parts, clothing and foods which are shipped into the country help to maintain internal trade health. Money transfer continues to maintain Ghana’s foreign exchange trade (Forex) to boost the currency’s value. Ghanaians living abroad have helped to make life easy for the entire nation. The cities are enlarging and many towns are undergoing infrastructural evolution all because of the economic engagement of Ghanaians living abroad. Many church building projects, schools, hospitals, quality water supply, private toilets and others are never completed without an extension of aid from our brothers living outside the country.
The fourth point that I’ll make to sum up this short reflection is about our hospitality to welcome both relatives and friends from Ghana. Don’t be surprised that many times when some Ministers and some national diplomats come to abroad, they lodge with friends and relatives. They are taking around not because they brought gold and cedis from Ghana, but because we treat them well. Many musicians, comedians and national icons have had a great privilege of enjoying aburokyire luxury because Ghanaians living abroad invited them to perform various programs. I’ll also mention the contribution of our footballers who live outside the country and make us proud in their various football club teams.
To be living abroad means something greater than the common man’s conception and perception of it. The next time you see someone coming from outside, think twice before your prejudices. We have students, scholars, business men and women, highly respected bureaucrats and diplomats who over the years have been contributing immensely in our country’s development. It’s about time Ghana recognizes the efforts that Ghanaians living abroad have been investing into the country. I suggest that a high level of attention be given to our brothers and sisters living outside the country in a constitutionalized decision making and public opinion.

Clifford Owusu-Gyamfi, University of Lausanne, Switzerland