Ghana has been urged to create a more welcoming environment for Africans in the diaspora who wish to return and settle in the country. The Acting Executive Director of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Dr Collins Rawlings Nyunyonyame, emphasized that the country's invitation to people of African descent to return home must be matched with accessible information and effective institutions. This would enable them to settle, invest, and contribute to national development.
Dr Nyunyonyame cited the experience of a prospective returnee who approached his office seeking assistance to become a Ghanaian citizen due to ancestral connections. However, attempts to direct the individual to the relevant government institutions proved unsuccessful. The prospective returnee reported being unable to obtain the necessary information, highlighting the difficulties faced by those seeking to establish permanent roots in Ghana.
Dr Nyunyonyame called for stronger coordination among institutions such as the Office of Diaspora Affairs, Ghana Immigration Service, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This would provide clear information on citizenship, residency, business establishment, and settlement procedures for prospective returnees. He also proposed a structured diaspora opportunity platform to connect them to credible investment opportunities, housing information, business registration, and professional partnerships.
The diaspora should be regarded as an important partner in national development, rather than just a source of tourism revenue. Returning professionals could transfer specialized knowledge, mentor young people, and strengthen local institutions. Entrepreneurs could establish businesses and create employment opportunities, contributing to the country's economic growth.
The Chairman of the Open D.O.O.R. Dialogues Committee, Ɔbenfo Obádélé Bakari Kambon, noted that the initiative marks a shift from the tourism-focused Year of Return to the Decade of Our Repatriation, covering 2026 to 2036. He emphasized that tourism is only the first step towards permanent settlement and that practical arrangements are needed for citizenship, land, housing, employment, and community integration.
Ɔbenfo Obádélé Bakari Kambon, who repatriated to Ghana in 2008, called for the establishment of a dedicated repatriation authority to coordinate support for people seeking to settle in the country. This would help address the challenges faced by prospective returnees and ensure a smoother transition.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening diaspora engagement and creating practical pathways for return, reintegration, citizenship, and economic participation. The diaspora remains an important partner in national development through investment, innovation, skills transfer, philanthropy, and international advocacy.
Key points
- The Ghanaian government has been urged to remove barriers to the permanent return of Africans in the diaspora.
- A structured diaspora opportunity platform is proposed to connect prospective returnees to credible investment opportunities.
- The establishment of a dedicated repatriation authority has been called for to coordinate support for people seeking to settle in Ghana.
