Ghanaians in diaspora to play key role in national development

Ghana’s Ambassador to Denmark Amerley Ollennu Awua-Asamoa, says government is keen to effectively mobilize the resources and skills of Ghanaians in the diaspora to help transform the country.

According to her the role of the Ghanaian Diaspora in national development has won unprecedented recognition from the current government.

Speaking at the maiden end of year interaction with Ghanaians in Denmark, she said, “President Nana Akufo Addo’s administration prioritises Diaspora investments. This is evident in his vision on Diaspora inclusiveness in building the new Ghana, the Ghana beyond Aid.”

Ambassador Ollennu Awua-Asamoa stated that Government is seeking a partnership with the diaspora that will increase investments, create a vibrant private sector, and the needed jobs for the teaming youth in Ghana.

“There is the need to inculcate in our people the best practices you’ve learnt from working in the top businesses and companies from the around the world. This would be the needed seed we would sow for the transformation of Ghana”, she emphasised in her address to the leadership of the various churches, unions and political parties (NPP&NDC) at the forum.

On the recent state visit by the Queen of Denmark to Ghana in November, She described it as a big success and that some eight MOUs have been signed in various sectors with the high-level delegation of 39 businesses that joined the Queen to visit Ghana.

Call for Unity

Ambassador Ollennu Awua-Asamoa further called on the various Ghanaian unions, Churches, political groupings and intellectuals to join the Ghana mission to present a united Ghanaian front in activities in the country.

“The mission is bent on pursuing and achieving positive results through close cooperation and trust with the Ghanaian Diaspora. Whatever has happened in the past should stay in the past. I am here now as your ambassador, ready to serve! Let’s start on a new page, afresh with no prejudice or malice,” she added.

The leadership of the NDC and NPP branches in Denmark commended the efforts of the mission to promote closer ties between the Diaspora networks all over the Scandinavian countries.

Mixed reaction to ROPAL

However, there were mixed reaction from the Ghanaians in Denmark to a court’s order for the Electoral Commission to take the necessary steps to enable Ghanaians living abroad to vote in the 2020 elections.

A human rights court has directed for the implementation of the Representation of the People Amendment Act 2006, (Act 699) which was passed into law 11 years ago, but has since not been implemented.

The Chairman of the National Democratic Congress branch in Denmark Francis Selorm Sekyi and Organizer for the New Patriotic Party Kweku Mensah have both welcomed the decision and said it was long overdue.

Meanwhile Nii Adu Ntre, who has been in Denmark for 23 years has raised concerns about how the integrity of the ballots would be protected to avoid election disputes.

“Who is going to make sure that the people who walk into wherever place we are going to vote are the right people, because the truth is that about 80% of the people here are Danish citizens not dual citizens. So how do we ensure the integrity of the vote?" he quizzed.