By Stanley Kwabla Arku
New policy framework co-led by diaspora entrepreneurs aims to mobilize $100 billion for the continent’s development
A transformative policy blueprint titled The Triangle Offense: The Blueprint for Diaspora Engagement and Economic Mobilization was officially launched, signalling a new era in Pan-African reintegration and development strategy.
The event, anchored in the spirit of African unity and sovereignty, introduced what organizers describe as the first scalable model for fully integrating the diaspora into Africa’s development agenda. The Triangle Offense sets out a practical, policy-driven framework built on three core pillars, diaspora impact assessments and data collection, national engagement policies, and legislative inclusion for return and citizenship.
Founder of She Grows It, Dr. Ashley Milton, emphasized the strategic depth of the initiative, likening it to a high-performance playbook. “The Triangle Offense is not just a metaphor. It’s a precise, coordinated approach to how we structure diaspora engagement. Each component, policy, data, law, works in tandem like players on a court. This is how we score for the continent,” she explained.
Chief Executive Officer of The Adinkra Group, Diallo Sumbry, expanded on this vision, calling the Triangle Offense “the single most comprehensive and intentional strategy for unlocking the full potential of the African diaspora.” Sumbry made the case for the model as a cornerstone of continental development, asserting, “We will not develop this continent without the diaspora. We need their investment, their expertise, their cultural and spiritual connection, this is not a side project. It is the path forward.”
The Triangle Offense is crafted in response to three realities shaping Africa’s diaspora engagement efforts:
1. Diaspora Impact Assessments & Data Collection – Past initiatives, such as Ghana’s 2019 Year of Return, generated significant buzz but lacked tools to track impact over time. The new blueprint calls for structured data systems to measure diaspora contributions in travel, remittances, innovation, and investment.
2. National Diaspora Engagement Policies – Though the African Union’s Agenda 2063 mandates that member states adopt diaspora policies by 2030, progress has been slow. To date, only 11 countries have taken meaningful steps. The Triangle Offense offers a tested template for countries within ECOWAS and beyond.
3. Legislative Frameworks for Return and Citizenship – Referencing Ghana’s proposed Homeland Return Bill, the model champions robust legal pathways that reflect Pan-African values. Citizenship and reintegration must be more than symbolic, they must be systemic and inclusive.
The launch comes at a pivotal moment in Africa’s trajectory. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which saw its first intra-African shipment from Nigeria to Kenya in 2024, is evidence of new momentum, but speakers stressed that trade must be matched by smart migration and investment policy.
“The diaspora is ready,” Milton stated. “They are sending more than $53 billion annually to the continent. They are building businesses; they are innovating globally, but we must open the gates wider.”
Sumbry added that with clear direction, African governments could unlock more than $100 billion in diaspora-led economic growth over the next decade.
The Triangle Offense is the result of deep collaboration between civil society, diaspora institutions, and policy architects. Its developers say it is designed not as a one-size-fits-all solution, but as a flexible, actionable guide tailored for national adaptation. The organizers hope to see the model adopted across AU member states and regional blocs like ECOWAS.