The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to translating diaspora engagement from dialogue into concrete economic action, as stakeholders converged for Day Two of the Diaspora Summit 2025 in Accra on Saturday, December 20.

Speaking at the summit, the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said the gathering marked a critical shift from reflection to implementation. Her address was delivered on her behalf by the Deputy Minister, Hon. Sampson Ahi.

According to the Minister, while Day One of the summit focused on history, identity, and shared purpose under the theme “Resetting Ghana: The Diaspora as the 17th Region,” Day Two was dedicated to translating shared aspirations into practical partnerships and measurable development outcomes.

She noted that key discussions at the summit centred on policy frameworks for deepening diaspora engagement, the Sankofa Initiative, the 24-Hour Economy, and targeted diaspora investment tools designed to align skills, capital, and global networks with Ghana’s national development priorities.

Hon. Ofosu-Adjare reaffirmed Ghana’s position as a strategic gateway to Africa, stressing that businesses operating from Ghana have access to a market of over 1.4 billion people through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). She identified trade, agribusiness, and industry as priority sectors offering significant opportunities for diaspora investors.

The Minister further outlined government efforts to strengthen value chains, support local production, revive key industries, and improve the business environment through clear and predictable policies. She emphasised that Ghana’s development agenda depends on strong public-private partnerships and active diaspora participation.

In a separate address, the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Hon. Julius Debrah, disclosed that nearly three million Ghanaians currently live abroad. He stressed that diaspora engagement must go beyond remittances, adding that with the right institutional systems in place, Ghana stands to attract increased investment from Ghanaians living overseas.

He noted that under President John Dramani Mahama’s Reset Agenda, the diaspora remains a central pillar of national development, and called for greater youth involvement as government deepens recognition of the diaspora as Ghana’s 17th Region.

Representing the Asantehene, Nana Dr. S.K.B. Asante, Paramount Chief of the Asokore Traditional Area, called for intensified public education to encourage Ghanaians to brand the country positively, both locally and internationally, in order to project a strong national image.

In a message to the summit, the Global Diasporan Council announced plans to establish a Global Homeland Fund next year in partnership with government, describing the initiative as a potential game changer for investment mobilisation in Ghana.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Mr. Simon Madjie, urged diaspora investors to look beyond Accra, noting that other regions across the country offer equally viable and sustainable investment opportunities.

The Diaspora Summit 2025 continues to serve as a platform for strengthening collaboration between government and Ghanaians abroad, with a renewed focus on leveraging diaspora trade, investment, and expertise for national development.


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