Government says it is moving from engagement to execution in its push to mobilise the diaspora as a driver of investment, trade and industrial growth, as the Diaspora Summit 2025 entered its second day in Accra.
The Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, said the summit marked a shift from reflection to implementation. Her remarks, delivered on her behalf by the Deputy Minister, Sampson Ahi, framed Day Two as a platform for converting shared aspirations into partnerships and measurable outcomes.
She said while Day One centred on history, identity and shared purpose under the theme “Resetting Ghana: The Diaspora as the 17th Region,” the focus on day two was on policy tools and investment frameworks. Key discussions covered approaches to deepening diaspora engagement, the Sankofa Initiative, the 24-Hour Economy and investment instruments designed to align skills, capital and global networks with Ghana’s development priorities.
Ofosu-Adjare reiterated Ghana’s positioning as a gateway to Africa, noting that companies operating from the country can access a market of more than 1.4 billion people through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). She pointed to trade, agribusiness and industry as sectors offering significant opportunities for diaspora investors.
She also outlined government efforts to strengthen value chains, support local production, revive priority industries and improve the business environment through clear and predictable policies, arguing that national development depends on strong public-private partnerships and active diaspora participation.
The Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Julius Debrah, in a speech read on his behalf, said nearly three million Ghanaians live abroad. According to him, engagement should extend beyond remittances, adding that with the right systems in place, Ghana could attract higher levels of investment from its diaspora.
The diaspora he said remains a central pillar of President John Dramani Mahama’s Reset Agenda, calling for stronger youth involvement as government deepens its 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 enhanced public education to encourage Ghanaians to brand the country positively at home and internationally, as part of efforts to strengthen Ghana’s global 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 it as a potential game changer for investment into the country.
Meanwhile, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Chief Executive Officer, Simon Madjie, urged diaspora investors to look beyond Accra, saying other regions offer competitive and sustainable opportunities that remain underexplored.
