Ambassador Smith pushes investment-driven diplomacy to boost Ghana's economy

Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, has urged the Ghanaian diaspora to move beyond remittances and invest in businesses that can create jobs and improve livelihoods in the country. He said the diaspora could contribute more to Ghana’s economic development by establishing businesses in key sectors, including energy, healthcare, tourism, agriculture and agribusiness. Ambassador Smith made the call during a meeting with the Washington Government Relations Group (WGRG), a non-partisan network of volunteers representing corporations, financial institutions, law firms, trade associations and non-profit organisations. He emphasised the need for Ghana’s diplomatic engagements to deliver measurable economic benefits through investment attraction, business development and job creation. “The true measure of successful diplomacy is not the number of high-level meetings we attend, but the investments we attract, the businesses we help establish and the lives we improve,” he said. Ambassador Smith said Ghana was seeking strategic partnerships that would generate mutual economic benefits rather than relationships focused primarily on the purchase of foreign goods. “Ghana wants strategic partnerships for mutual economic benefit, not relationships defined merely by the purchase of American products,” he said. He encouraged members of the group to visit Ghana, explore investment opportunities and establish local industries to create jobs and provide sustainable livelihoods. According to him, Ghana’s shift from exporting raw materials towards refining, processing and higher-value production presents new opportunities for diaspora-led businesses. He said creating more economic opportunities at home could help ensure that migration became a choice rather than a necessity driven by economic hardship. The leader of the WGRG delegation, Dontal L. Smalls, Senior Vice President of Global Public Affairs, welcomed the ambassador’s proposals and expressed the group’s willingness to collaborate with the Ghanaian Embassy. Smalls disclosed that the group was planning a visit to Ghana in 2027 to coincide with the country’s 70th Independence Anniversary. The visit is expected to include economic engagements and cultural exchanges aimed at strengthening ties and exploring investment opportunities. Smalls also expressed the group’s readiness to work with Ambassador Smith to advance his economic diplomacy agenda and support Ghana’s development. The meeting forms part of the Ghanaian Embassy’s efforts to mobilise diaspora resources and international partnerships to support long-term economic growth.Source: www.ghanaweb.com
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