Ghana Seeks Stronger Diaspora Ties, Calls Them ’17th Region’
Ghana Seeks Stronger Diaspora Ties, Calls Them ’17th Region’
At a two-day Diaspora Summit in Accra, Ghana’s government, led by President Mahama, advocated for stronger ties with its citizens living abroad. The initiative proposes recognizing the diaspora as the “17th region” of the West African nation, emphasizing that Ghana’s national history is incomplete without their experiences and contributions. The summit, attended by representatives from politics, civil society, business, and development aid, discussed ways to engage the diaspora more deeply. Under the theme “Restart for Ghana: The Diaspora as the 17th Region,” discussions focused on moving beyond viewing overseas Ghanaians solely as a source of remittances. Instead, the government aims to establish them as active partners in governance, investment, innovation, and cultural promotion, seeking their integral involvement in the country’s development.