By Makiza Micheline Latifa
Ghana has officially launched the 2025 Diaspora Summit, a landmark event scheduled for December in Accra, aimed at deepening the country’s engagement with its global diaspora and reaffirming Africa’s collective call for reparations. The launch was spearheaded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Presidency.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, described the initiative as a vital step in Africa’s broader struggle for justice, noting that Ghana’s diaspora remains central to advancing that cause. He stressed that the summit also reechoes Africa’s longstanding calls for reparations, underscoring Ghana’s role as a leading voice in championing that demand on the global stage.
“This initiative is not only about building partnerships; it is also about justice. Ghana is proud to stand with Africa and the diaspora in demanding reparations, as we seek to transform the legacy of exploitation into a future of equity and progress,” Ablakwa stated.
Building Bridges with the Diaspora
Deputy Chief of Staff, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, said the summit underscores Ghana’s “enduring commitment to building bridges of opportunity, partnership, and shared destiny” between the nation and its diaspora. She described the diaspora as an integral part of Ghana, noting that President John Dramani Mahama’s reset agenda recognizes them as the “17th Region of Ghana.”
“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. This Summit is about turning those contributions into a force for progress,” she said.
Bampoe Addo also linked the summit to Africa’s growing reparations movement, noting that the period 2026–2036 has been declared the Decade of Reparations across the continent. She stressed that Ghana, under President Mahama’s leadership as AU Champion for Reparations, is determined to amplify the call for justice while mobilizing Africans at home and abroad to achieve economic liberation.
Resetting Ghana: The Diaspora as the 17th Region
For his part, Mr. Kofi Okyere Darko, Director of the Diaspora Affairs Office, described the summit as a “reset” in how Ghana engages with its diaspora.
“This summit is about repositioning the diaspora, not merely as senders of remittances, but as full partners in our national transformation. Ghana’s greatest wealth is not beneath the ground but within its people, both at home and abroad,” he said.
Darko outlined the scale and potential of Ghana’s diaspora, which numbers between 3 and 5 million worldwide. He highlighted two groups: recent migrants who bring fresh skills and capital, and the historic African diaspora across the Americas and the Caribbean, whose combined buying power is estimated at nearly $2 trillion.
In 2024 alone, diaspora remittances to Ghana exceeded $6.4 billion, representing about 6% of GDP. In 2025, that figure is expected to surpass $6.8 billion. But Darko emphasized that the value of the diaspora lies far beyond financial inflows, in their skills, innovation, and advocacy on the global stage.
“Our mandate is simple: build bridges and break barriers. We are institutionalizing diaspora engagement as a national priority, from mobilizing investment to advancing skills transfer, to strengthening trade under AfCFTA,” he explained.
Honoring Diaspora Icons
As part of the launch, five distinguished personalities were honored with diplomatic passports, designating them as special envoys to strengthen Ghana’s ties with the diaspora. They include:
• Wode Maya – celebrated YouTuber and content creator
• Lady Dentaa Amoateng – media entrepreneur and founder of GUBA Enterprise
• Rocky Dawuni – Grammy-nominated musician and cultural ambassador
• Anita Erskine – renowned broadcaster and communications professional
• Ibrahim Mahama – acclaimed visual artist
Officials say these envoys will help amplify Ghana’s visibility abroad, promote investment and cultural exchange, and serve as champions for Ghana’s diaspora engagement agenda.
Call to Action
The December summit will bring together leaders from government, business, civil society, and the diaspora under the theme “Resetting Ghana: The Diaspora as the 17th Region.” It will culminate in a Diaspora Awards Gala to celebrate the extraordinary contributions of Ghanaians and people of African descent worldwide.
Organizers have also launched an official website diasporasummitghana.org where participants can register for the summit.
As Ghana prepares for this historic gathering, the message from government is clear: the diaspora is not apart from Ghana, but a vital part of its national fabric. The summit is being positioned not just as a networking and investment platform, but as part of a broader justice agenda, reinforcing Africa’s collective call for reparations and Ghana’s determination to lead that charge.