Bagbin urges Ewe diaspora to convert cultural network into investment platform

Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has urged the Ewe diaspora to move beyond cultural celebrations and remittances by using its global networks to drive investment and economic transformation in Ghana.

Speaking as Special Guest of Honour at the 33rd anniversary celebration of the Council of Ewe Associations of North America (CEANA) in Washington, D.C., Mr Bagbin said the diaspora could turn its strong social connections into a catalyst for sustainable development.

“You have shown that culture should not only bring people together to celebrate. It can also bring people together to develop,” he said.

The remarks were contained in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency on Sunday by David Sebastian Damoah, Director of Media Relations at the Parliamentary Service.

The statement commended CEANA, established in 1993, for its contributions to Ghana over more than three decades, including scholarships and support for schools, libraries and healthcare facilities.

It urged the association to use its extensive international network to connect traditional leaders and local stakeholders with investors, universities, technology firms and development partners.

The statement identified agriculture, tourism, infrastructure and enterprise development as sectors where such partnerships could support Ghana’s growth.

The call was reinforced by Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple, the Member of the Council of State representing the Volta Region.

He said the region’s potential could only be realised through unity among traditional, political and community leaders.

“Young people need jobs, mentorship, access to markets, and technology, not just assurances of potential,” he was quoted as saying.

Bank of Ghana Governor Dr Johnson Asiama, who also addressed the gathering, said Ghana’s recent economic stabilisation had created a foundation for diaspora investment.

“Stability is not the destination; it is the foundation,” Dr Asiama said, urging Ghanaians abroad to channel remittances into long-term productive investments.

The statement said he cited remittances of US$7.8 billion in 2025 and pointed to the formalisation of International Money Transfer Operators, the Remit2Invest strategy and the establishment of the Diaspora Engagement and Remittance Facilitation Office as mechanisms for directing diaspora funds into businesses, agriculture and technology.

The anniversary celebration was attended by several dignitaries, including Victor Smith, Ghana’s former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom; Ben Dotsei Malor, Ghana’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations; and some Members of Parliament.