James Gyakye Quayson, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
The 2025 Diaspora Summit in Accra officially introduced the Sankofa Initiative, a global programme aimed at deepening historical, cultural and development ties between Ghana and its diaspora, while reaffirming the diaspora’s status as the country’s 17th region.
Speaking at the summit, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, described the initiative as both a national policy and a deeply personal journey shaped by his own decades-long life in the diaspora.
Quayson, who lived and worked in Canada for 42 years before returning to Ghana to serve in public office, said the recognition of the diaspora as a formal region of Ghana reflects the enduring bond between the country and its citizens abroad.
“Like many in the diaspora, I carried Ghana in my heart even while living abroad. Setbacks do not cancel purpose, and restoration, when guided by intention, can uplift not only individuals but an entire nation,” he said.
He noted that his personal experience of legal and public scrutiny strengthened his belief in justice, resilience and inclusive governance, adding that people must always remain at the centre of public institutions.
The Sankofa Initiative draws inspiration from recent international efforts to confront historical injustices, including the renaming of Dundas Square in Toronto to Sankofa Square in August 2025, a move acknowledging the role of Henry Dundas in delaying the abolition of slavery in the British Empire.
Quayson described the renaming as “living proof that Sankofa is not merely a proverb, but a path,” explaining that it symbolizes returning to history to retrieve wisdom and restore dignity.
Under the initiative, Sankofa Monuments will be established across major diaspora hubs, including the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, and the Caribbean, with the first monument scheduled for unveiling in Toronto in August 2026. The project aims to create a global network of remembrance, reconciliation and reconnection with Ghana.
Also addressing the summit on behalf of the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration), Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, described the diaspora as a strategic national asset rather than a symbolic extension of the state.
She revealed that nearly three million Ghanaians currently live abroad and contributed an estimated US$6.65 billion in remittances in 2024, surpassing revenue from several traditional exports.
“The diaspora is more than remittances. It is skills, technology, innovation, influence, and belonging,” she stated.
She announced a series of policy reforms under the government’s Reset Agenda, including the institutionalisation of diaspora engagement, the introduction of key performance indicators for heads of diplomatic missions, and plans to link diplomatic performance to measurable diaspora engagement outcomes.
Other proposed measures include improved passport and consular services, diaspora investment vehicles, heritage tourism programmes, youth exchange initiatives, and structured skills transfer schemes to support sectors such as health, education and technology.
Presidential Adviser on Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, expressed appreciation to participants and partners, commending President Mahama and Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for their leadership and commitment to reparative justice.
He said the summit marked a decisive shift from rhetoric to action, aimed at building a more inclusive, connected, and development-driven relationship between Ghana and its global family.
