When ? Diasporean Relations? does not include the Ghana Diaspora.

As part of the cabinet reshuffle on April 28, 2006, there was a change of the Ministry of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City to Ministry of Tourism and Diasporean Relations with Hon. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey remaining as its Minister. A cursory look at this ?Diasporean Relations? brings an anticipation that finally, Ghana?s government is officially acknowledging and setting up a high level organ to engage its Diaspora.

A closer look at the full title of the redesigned Ministry begs questions such as: What exactly is ?Diasporean?? Why is it attached to the Ministry of Tourism? Some of us decided to reach out to powers and mouthpieces in Ghana to seek direct answers and were shocked to learn that the ?Diasporean? has nothing to do with Ghana?s Diaspora. It has everything to do with cultivating tourist relations with Africa?s old Diaspora, who number 35 million in the US alone and have lost their ?home? addresses through the cruel play of history.

We go on record that we support every move by our government to develop and promote tourism and even play home to our brothers and sisters from the old Africa Diaspora to whom we owe a moral debt. We question the wisdom of blatantly adding insult to injury that, we as a nation are only interested in their tourist dollars and pounds. By the way who wants to be permanently referred to as ?Diasporean? as if they come from a country called ?Diaspora??

Pressed on the issue, the new Press Secretary for President Kufuor, Mr. Andrew Awuni explained that the new Ministry is in response to the Africa Union?s objective to create a sixth region to extend the geographic borders of Africa to include all its wandering and displaced sons and daughters. This is designed to tap their contributions for the development of Africa. That is fair enough but the AU never patently said Diaspora must exclude one country?s own citizens nor focus exclusively on the tourist potential of the established old Africa Diaspora. (Old differentiates between the descendants of those plundered and sold from Africa versus the new wave of largely economic and political emigrants). Where the AU?s motive is noble and inclusive, Ghana?s Ministry of Tourism and Diasporean Relations is exclusive and annoying to all. The new Ghana Diaspora wants a deeper engagement with their home country that will lead to grounded democracy and economic development. This is absent in the new Ministry and cabinet reshuffle. The old Africa Diaspora wants a bond of relevance and identification and that is also absent.

Lest you think the Press Secretary is wrong, we can authoritatively state that Hon. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey has indicated that he does not have the Ghana Diaspora in mind for his new portfolio. We pray that the Hon. Minister and the Government will seek unity of purpose and not send any signals whatsoever of officially preferring one set of Africa Diaspora over the Ghana Diaspora. There is a confusion that needs official clarity.

We make two suggestions: 1. that we simply have a Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. 2. If that is asking too much then we suggest a Secretariat of Diaspora Affairs to be housed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to signal to the world that Ghana is both serious about the goals of the African Union; is ready to include its citizens in its development processes; and ready to extend a defining hand to the bigger Africa Diaspora both old and new? The tourist goals could still be achieved without being divisive. Certainly ?Diasporean Relations? must disappear from the official name of the Ministry of Tourism. We are aware and support the ?Joseph Project? designed to lure the old Diaspora home to Ghana. However, at a time of the rising voice of the Ghana Diaspora, it is not helpful that our country officially sends orphaned messages to its own direct citizens who will be necessary ambassadors for the success of any transnational schemes, tourist or otherwise.

On that note, on Saturday May 27, 2006, the non-partisan Diaspora Vote Committee that was instrumental in getting the voting franchise extended to Ghanaians abroad will host a meeting in Montreal to discuss the implementation of the ensuing Representation of the People Amendment Act (ROPAA). This is a continuation of the larger issue of the positive engagement of Ghana?s Diaspora with our home country. It is a crucial meeting that will be held at the Quality Hotel Midtown, 6443 Boulevard Decarie, Montreal, Canada. All are invited. Please contact Michael Baffoe at baffoekofi@sympatico.ca. We expect some of the declared Presidential Candidates to be present to state their views on the new partnership between Ghana and its Diaspora.