President Akufo-Addo on Ghana Beyond the Year of Return

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on Africans in the diaspora to help make Africa the best place for investment, progress and prosperity.

“Let us all remember that the destiny of all black people no matter where they are in the world is bound up with Africa. We must help make Africa the place for investment, progress and prosperity and not from where our youth flee in the hope of accessing the mirage of a better life in Europe or the Americas” he said.

He made the appeal when he addressed the attendees of an event organised by the British High Commission in Accra on Friday, December 27, 2019, for all people who are in Ghana as part of the “Year of Return” ” and themed “Beyond the Return, the Diaspora Dividend”.

President Akufo-Addo stressed that just like the Chinese in the diaspora were at the forefront of the economic revolution of China, African diasporans can do same for the African continent.

"As we draw the curtains on the Year of Return, we should now look beyond the return, and build on the dividends chalked. The time has come to engage Africans in the diaspora and all persons of African descent more positively in areas such as trade and investment co-operation, and skills and knowledge development," President Akufo-Addo said.

“With an immigration population of 60 million, the Chinese diaspora is said to be the 25th largest country in the world who according to the Nikkei Asian Review own assets worth US$2.5 trillion,” President Akufo-Addo said.

He added that “when foreign companies in the late 1970s reduced their investments in China, it was the Chinese in the diaspora that shored up the economy.

For his part, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Iain Walker said that the “Year of Return” initiative has been a great success.

He added that the British High Commission is committed to ensuring that Ghana continues to reap the benefits of the initiative beyond this year.

“We are very keen on working more with the diaspora office. We are very keen to build on the phenomenal success of the Year of Return as we look towards the year beyond return” High Commissioner Iain Walker said.