Diasporians asked to increase their contribution to economic development

From: Clemence Okumah, GNA Special Correspondent, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Cambridge, (UK), March 22, GNA - Ghanaians in the Diaspora have been called upon to take advantage of the favourable political climate at home to contribute their quota towards socio-economic development. Mr Alfred Sallia Fawundu, Former UNDP Resident Representative in Guinea Bissau, Benin and Ghana, said Ghana had set the pace for national development and Ghanaians abroad should therefore mobilise both human and material resources to invest in various productive ventures to create jobs for the large army of unemployed youth.


Mr Fawundu was speaking at a seminar on, " Developing Ghana From Afar", which was aimed at exploring the ways of involving Ghanaians in the Diaspora in national development.


It was organised by the Cambridge University Ghanaian Society on the University campus.


He expressed regret about the mass migration of Ghanaian academics and professionals to the so-called greener pastures, explaining that the practice was being re-enforced by remittances from the immigrants to relatives and friends at home.

Mr Fawundu said although such monies were used for the payment of school fees, hospital bills and other purposes that was not the effective means of contributing to the growth of the economy. He said the country required the support of Ghanaians abroad to enable it to achieve the Millennium Development Goals that was aimed at eradicating poverty, hunger, diseases, improved education and the prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS among other objectives. He said sustained commitment of government to economic and institutional reforms enhanced the country's reputation as an emerging viable investment destination.


It was also signals that Ghana was gradually becoming an ideal place for investment.


Mr Fawundu said the implementation of the various presidential initiatives such as those on cassava, salt, palm oil and garment further indicated Ghana's commitment to diversifying the export base and creating job opportunities.