President John Dramani Mahama has underscored the critical role of the African diaspora in shaping Ghana’s development and reclaiming Africa’s identity, calling for greater unity among Africans worldwide.

Addressing participants at the Diaspora Summit 2025 in Accra on Friday, December 19, President Mahama said Africans must reverse the divisive narratives imposed by their former oppressors.

“Let’s take the narrative of those who oppressed us and work it. In fact, let’s take their entire modus operandi and flip it and reverse it,” he urged.

The summit, held under the theme “Resetting Ghana: The Diaspora as the 17th Region,” brought together global Ghanaian and Pan-African diaspora communities, policymakers, private sector actors, and development partners.

President Mahama encouraged participants to be more deliberate about unity, saying Africans have historically found ways to reconnect despite divisions.

“So, I urge you my brothers and sisters, let’s be more intentional about our unity than they were about our division. It will not be a difficult goal to achieve,” he said.

He described the summit as a platform for reclaiming Africa’s story and fostering collaboration between Ghana and its diaspora beyond remittances.

The Diaspora Summit is designed to institutionalize diaspora engagement as a strategic pillar of national development, positioning Ghanaians abroad as active partners in governance, investment, innovation, and cultural promotion.