Diaspora partnership central to Ghana’s reset agenda – Vice President Opoku-Agyemang

Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang says the African diaspora remains central to Ghana’s economic recovery, historical justice efforts, and long-term transformation agenda.

She made the remarks on Saturday, December 20, at the closing of the 2025 Diaspora Summit in Accra, where she represented President John Dramani Mahama.

The Vice President said the summit was convened at a defining moment in Ghana’s development journey, noting that the country had chosen to place history, justice, and responsibility at the centre of its national and continental engagements.

She said discussions over the two days reaffirmed that reparations were not abstract moral demands, but complex political, economic, and historical issues requiring structure, persistence, and credible leadership.

Prof Opoku-Agyemang stressed that the description of the diaspora as Ghana’s “17th region” reflected its enduring role in the country’s development through remittances, investments, skills transfer, advocacy, and cultural preservation.

She said Ghana’s reset agenda would not be possible without strong and purposeful partnerships, adding that the government was committed to strengthening diaspora-friendly policies and creating clear pathways for return, investment, and collaboration.

The Vice President cited ongoing economic reforms under the Reset Ghana agenda, stating that inflation was declining, foreign reserves improving and investor confidence gradually returning. These gains, she noted, form the foundation for deeper engagement with the diaspora.

Reflecting on Ghana’s continental role, she said President Mahama’s mandate as the African Union’s Champion for Reparations signalled the country’s commitment to the dignity and material claims of Africans and people of African descent worldwide.

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa described the 2025 Diaspora Summit as a watershed moment in Ghana’s relationship with its global diaspora, saying it had laid the groundwork for a permanent framework to mainstream diaspora involvement in national development.

He said participants identified regulatory and legal barriers limiting diaspora investment and participation and called for reforms to unlock their full potential.

Mr Ablakwa noted that reparatory justice was recognised not only as a moral and legal imperative, but also as a catalyst for global collaboration based on restitution and mutual respect.

Participants expressed confidence that sustained collaboration would help translate shared history into shared prosperity and further strengthen Ghana’s leadership in Africa’s global engagement.