Ghana Hosts Maiden 'Open D.O.O.R. Dialogues' to Support Diasporans

The maiden 'Open D.O.O.R. Dialogues' was held at the Cedi Conference Centre of the University of Ghana, Legon, on Friday, October 30, 2026. The dialogue brought together government representatives, traditional authorities, academics, and members of the African diaspora to explore practical ways of strengthening the relationship between Ghana and its global diaspora. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr James Gyakye Quayson, emphasized the diaspora's importance in national development through investment, innovation, skills transfer, philanthropy, and international advocacy.

Mr Quayson reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening diaspora engagement and creating practical pathways for return, reintegration, citizenship, and economic participation. He made these remarks on the theme: 'Come Home. Stay Home. Build Home.' The Acting Executive Director of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Dr Collins Rawlings Nyunyonyame, who represented the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Ms Abla Dzifa Gomashie, also spoke at the event.

Dr Nyunyonyame highlighted the difficulties confronting people seeking to establish permanent roots in Ghana. He mentioned that efforts to direct individuals to the appropriate government institutions often proved unsuccessful, with prospective returnees later reporting that they had been unable to obtain the necessary information. He called for stronger coordination among the Office of Diaspora Affairs, Ghana Immigration Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other relevant institutions.

Dr Nyunyonyame proposed the establishment of a structured diaspora opportunity platform to connect prospective returnees to credible investment opportunities, housing information, business registration, professional partnerships, and skills-transfer programs. This platform would facilitate the process of settling in Ghana and provide necessary support to diasporans.

The Chairman of the Open D.O.O.R. Dialogues Committee, Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé Bakari Kambon, mentioned that the initiative represented a shift from the tourism-focused Year of Return to the Decade of Our Repatriation, covering 2026 to 2036. He emphasized that tourism was only the first step towards permanent settlement and that Ghana needed practical arrangements to address citizenship, land, housing, employment, and community integration.

The Open D.O.O.R. Dialogues aim to create a more supportive environment for diasporans to return and settle in Ghana. The event provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the challenges faced by diasporans and explore solutions to address these issues. The government's commitment to strengthening diaspora engagement and creating practical pathways for return and reintegration was reaffirmed.

The dialogue also highlighted the importance of coordination among government institutions and the need for a structured diaspora opportunity platform. The Decade of Our Repatriation, which covers 2026 to 2036, is expected to provide a framework for Ghana's engagement with its diaspora and support their return and settlement.

Key points

• The maiden 'Open D.O.O.R. Dialogues' was held in Accra to discuss practical arrangements to support diasporans returning to Ghana.
• The government reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening diaspora engagement and creating practical pathways for return, reintegration, citizenship, and economic participation.
• A structured diaspora opportunity platform was proposed to connect prospective returnees to credible investment opportunities, housing information, business registration, and skills-transfer programs.