Your investments are safe — Nana Oye Bampoe Addo
The Deputy Chief of Staff in Charge of Administration, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, has assured members of the diaspora of the government’s commitment to protect their businesses and investments in the country.
She emphasised that their investments were not only safe because the country was their home, but because the government was building a congenial environment for their investments to thrive and help in nation-building and cultural exchange.
The Deputy Chief of Staff was speaking at the media launch of the Diaspora Summit organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President and the Ghana Tourism Authority, in Accra yesterday.
The summit will be held in Accra on December 19 and 20 this year as part of the Christmas Experience in the country. It will be on the theme: “Resetting Ghana: The Diaspora as the 17th Region”.
It is aimed at deepening economic and strategic partnerships between the country and its global diaspora.
The launch event was attended by members of the diaspora, media professionals and personalities in the creative industry.
Diaspora's role in development
Ms Bampoe Addo said the various stakeholders would spare no effort to ensure that the summit became a defining moment for investment, one that transcended dialogue and led to tangible impact in areas such as investment, innovation and education.
She emphasised that the “Reset Agenda” under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama was to build a country that fostered rapid growth of the private sector and an accountable public sector, of which the diaspora was no exception.
“This summit stands as a testament to Ghana's vision of transforming our collective strength into a force for progress.
Our brothers and sisters abroad continue to play a vital role in shaping the image of our nation, investing in our economy, and contributing to the transfer of knowledge, skills and networks,” she said.
Summit visa waiver
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said a visa waiver would be granted to all attendees of the 2025 Diaspora Summit.
The move, he said, was a demonstration of the government's commitment to reuniting with its diaspora community, promoting a sense of belonging among Ghanaians abroad and making the summit more accessible and convenient for diaspora members.
The Foreign Affairs Minister also offered diplomatic passports to five Ghanaians for their vital role in promoting the country and the continent across the world.
The five awardees are Wode Maya, an African tourism advocate; Lady Dentaa Amoateng, an entrepreneur and actress; Rocky Dawuni, a musician of international repute; Anita Erskine, a media and communication specialist; and Ibrahim Mahama, an artist.
Mr Ablakwa emphasised the commitment of the government to driving the call for reparations with a conference expected to be held on reparations on the sidelines of the summit.
He said the call for reparation and the 10-year plan adopted by the African Union to be led by President Mahama did not only mean justice for colonialism and neo-colonialism but also a call for fair treatment.
Partnership
For his part, the Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President, Kofi Okyere Darko, said the summit would deepen economic and strategic partnerships between the country and its global diaspora.
He indicated that the summit would focus on repositioning the diaspora—from being seen only as senders of remittances—to being recognised as full partners in our national transformation.
“In 2024, remittances alone exceeded $6.4 billion, about six per cent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
In 2025, we are now on course to surpass $6.8 billion. But the true value of the diaspora lies beyond finance; it’s 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,” Mr Darko said.
