Vice President urges diaspora to invest in Ghana's industrialisation drive

Vice President Professor Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called on Ghanaians living abroad to increase their investments in Ghana and help drive the country’s industrial transformation.

She made the appeal during an engagement with members of the Ghanaian community in the United States at the residence of Ghana’s Ambassador to the US, Victor Emmanuel Smith.

The event, dubbed “Ghanaians Meet the Vice President”, focused on investment, development and the contribution of the diaspora to Ghana’s economy.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang acknowledged the sacrifices made by Ghanaians abroad and urged those at home to value the support they provide.

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“They have not chosen to live away from home, and don’t think that where they live now is a perpetual vacation site. It’s a lot of sacrifice on their part too,” she said.

She particularly encouraged diaspora investors to move into value addition, arguing that Ghana must reduce its dependence on exporting raw materials.

“We are putting a halt to this whole strategy of exporting raw materials. Enough. We must add value,” she stressed.

Using cocoa as an example, she said both large and smaller enterprises could contribute to the industrialisation agenda.

She also proposed collective investment schemes for Ghanaians abroad.

“How about forming consortia? How about the Ghanaian diaspora in North America floating shares and running it like a business?” she asked.

Beyond investment, the Vice President called for national unity and responsible management of resources.

“This calls for discipline in everything we do. It calls for holding all of us to account. It calls for all of us putting the country first,” she said.

She further urged Ghanaians to plan beyond immediate needs.

FKA/MA