The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President, has lauded the contributions of Ghanaians in the diaspora towards the country’s development.
While there is a lot more to do on the field of knowledge transfer and positive influences in the country’s economic landscape, Ghanaians living abroad have always been appreciably impactful and concerned about the progress of the country.
Speaking at this year’s Ghana Diaspora Celebration and Homecoming Summit 2019, Director of Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President, Mr. Akwasi Awua Ababio said, there was the need to quickly intervene in ensuring that Ghanaians in the diaspora are not left out in the country’s growth process.
This he said, led to the establishment of the Diaspora Affairs Office by President Akufo-Addo to coordinate more effectively on matters affecting Ghanaians abroad and their quest to participate in the national development dialogue.
Instructively, Mr. Awua Ababio said the Diaspora Office over the last two years, has responded to some needs of Ghanaians living abroad in order to integrate them.
Among the progress made include the formation of a legal team to lobby appropriate stakeholders for the amendment of Articles 8 (2) and 94 (2) of the 1992 constitution which restricts the rights of Ghanaians with dual citizenship to fully participate in Ghana’s socio economic discourse.
Equally, the Office is also intensifying engagements with the Electoral Commission on the implementation of the Representation of the People’s Amendment Law, 1992 (PNDCL 284). This move is to allow a diaspora homeland engagement to allow Ghanaians living abroad to vote.
This and several others, Mr. Awua Ababio explained are being aggressively pursued to ensure a quick integration of the Ghanaian diaspora to participate in the nation’s development.
Meanwhile, Tourism Minister, Mrs Barbara Oteng Gyasi said despite being away, many Ghanaians continue to invest in the country through remittances, starting businesses and donations to organizations.
She said in tourism, while the Ghanaian Diaspora was an important part of inbound market, the key role the Ghanaian Diaspora play in job creation across the tourism value chain cannot be underestimated.
Presenting the ‘ Year of Return’ cloth with CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Mr. Akwasi Agyeman to the President as part of the cloth’s official unveiling at the opening ceremony of the event, the Minister commended the Diaspora Home Coming Committee for spearheading the event which has become a flagship programme for engaging and connecting the Diaspora to Ghana.
