In a statement at the launch of the Ghana Diaspora Summit 2025, Kofi Okyere Darko, Director of the Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President, has called for a fundamental shift in how the nation views its citizens abroad.
Speaking at the launch of 2025 Diaspora Summit in Accra, h e emphasized that the upcoming summit, scheduled for December, will be a “reset” aimed at repositioning the diaspora from mere senders of remittances to genuine partners in Ghana’s national transformation. The summit’s theme is: “Resetting Ghana: The Diaspora as the 17th Region.”
Mr. Okyere Darko asserted that Ghana’s greatest asset is not its natural resources but its people, both at home and across the globe. He highlighted the diversity of the diaspora, which includes not only the estimated three to five million Ghanaians living abroad but also the historic African diaspora, whose collective buying power exceeds $1.6 trillion.
“The true value of the diaspora lies beyond finance, in the expertise of professionals, the innovation of entrepreneurs, and advocacy that connects Ghana to the world stage, spotlighting Ghana as a hub of innovation,” he said.
He detailed the proactive efforts of his office, which operates under a 2025 mandate to “Build Bridges and Break Barriers.” He noted that the Diaspora Affairs Office, in collaboration with over 27 ministries and agencies, is institutionalizing diaspora engagement as a national priority.
Recent initiatives include launching a 24-hour hotline, assisting hundreds of returnees with residence permits, and supporting numerous organizations involved in philanthropic work. The December summit will be officially opened by President John Dramani Mahama and will bring together leaders from government, business, civil society, and the diaspora. The event will culminate in the Diaspora Awards Gala, which will celebrate the extraordinary contributions of people of African descent worldwide.
A Call to Action
Kofi Okyere Darko ended with a clear call to action for three key groups. He urged the private sector to invest in diaspora-centered opportunities, called on the diaspora to bring not just financial contributions but also ideas, skills, and innovation, and tasked the media to carry this important story across Ghana, Africa, and the world.
He stressed that with the AfCFTA headquartered in Accra, and nearly half of Ghana’s diaspora residing in Nigeria alone, the nation has a unique opportunity to leverage its global community to drive regional power in trade, culture, and innovation. “Imagine what can be achieved when Ghana and its diaspora move in unity,” Mr. Darko concluded. “This is our moment to galvanize momentum, to show that the diaspora is Ghana’s 17th Region and a force for inclusive transformation.”
Story By: Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
