Ghana has announced a historic visa-free entry policy for Africans and people of African descent, as it prepares to host the 2025 Diaspora Summit in Accra. The event aims to redefine Ghana’s relationship with its global community through partnerships, reparations, and investment opportunities.
By Kofi Quaye, Editor and Publisher.
A Vision Beyond Borders: Ghana Declares the Diaspora Its “17th Region”
Ghana is stepping boldly into a new chapter of Pan-African unity with the upcoming Diaspora Summit 2025, set for December 19–20 in Accra. At the official media launch, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa declared that Ghana will now treat its diaspora as the country’s “17th Region”, acknowledging their crucial role in the nation’s growth and identity.
In a groundbreaking announcement, Ablakwa revealed that visa-free entry will be granted to all Africans and people of African descent traveling to Ghana for the summit.
“You cannot call your brothers and sisters home and then treat them as aliens,” Ablakwa said. “We seek nothing but justice, truth, and reunification.”
This visionary move builds on the momentum of Ghana’s celebrated Year of Return (2019) and the Beyond the Return initiative, which together attracted more than 1.1 million visitors and generated an estimated $3.3 billion in tourism and investment revenue. The 2025 Summit represents the next phase—transforming symbolic homecomings into sustained partnerships.
Reparations, Justice, and Reconnection: Ghana Leads a Global Movement
A centerpiece of the summit will be Ghana’s leadership in the global reparations movement, a mandate entrusted by the African Union (AU) to President John Dramani Mahama, who will champion the reparations agenda through 2036.
According to Ablakwa, this movement is not about financial compensation, but about restoring dignity, justice, and closure for centuries of exploitation and displacement.
“This is not about money,” he explained. “It’s about healing, reclaiming our story, and restoring the pride of our people.”
A Special Conference on Reparations will be held during the summit, showcasing Ghana’s leadership and progress in building international consensus. The initiative continues Ghana’s proud legacy as a beacon of Pan-Africanism, from the days of Kwame Nkrumah to today’s renewed call for global Black solidarity.
Harnessing Diaspora Power: From Remittances to Nation-Building
Representing President Mahama at the launch, Deputy Chief of Staff Nana Oye Bampoe Addo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making diaspora engagement a key driver of Ghana’s development.
“This Summit stands as a testament to Ghana’s vision of transforming our collective strength into a force for progress,” she said.
Bampoe Addo highlighted Ghana’s “Reset Agenda,” focused on creating a safe and transparent investment environment for returnees and diaspora entrepreneurs. “Our brothers and sisters abroad continue to shape the image of our nation, investing in our economy and contributing through knowledge, skills, and networks,” she added.
With global African diaspora wealth estimated at over $2 trillion, Ghana hopes to channel that economic and intellectual capital into building sustainable industries, startups, and cultural initiatives.
Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers: A New Era of Partnership
Presidential Adviser on Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, reinforced the message of inclusion and belonging, stating that the diaspora is “not apart from Ghana, but a part of Ghana.”
He announced the rollout of a new Diaspora Engagement Policy, which will formalize partnerships across 27 ministries and agencies, ensuring continuity and long-term collaboration beyond the summit.
The 2025 Summit, themed “Resetting Ghana: The Diaspora as the 17th Region,” will feature an awards gala to celebrate the contributions of Ghanaians and people of African descent worldwide.
“We are building bridges across continents,” Darko said. “The diaspora is not just an economic force—it is a cultural, intellectual, and spiritual asset that must shape the future of Africa.”
⁸The government has launched www.diasporasummitghana.org for event registration, information, and award nominations. As Ghana prepares to welcome thousands from across the globe this December, the message is clear:
Africa’s homecoming is no longer a dream—it’s a movement reborn in Ghana.
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