Tag: Diaspora

Akwasi Awua-Ababio, Director of Diaspora Affairs Gives Keynote Address as the Grand Opening of the African Diaspora Business and Cultural Centre in Accra

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Mr. Akwasi Awua-Ababio, Director of Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President gave the keynote address at the grand opening of the African Diaspora Business and Cultural Center in Accra Ghana on Spintex Road as part of activties on Juneteenth Emancipation Day, 2021. The event was hosted by Ministry of the Future and Drodai Company Limited.

In his address, Mr. Ababio made note that the Year of Return was based of the Right of Africans in the DIaspora have to return. The Year of Return, he continued gave birth to Beyond the Return which is an initiative to push the successes of the Year of Return in a more meaningful manner. However, the covid pandemic had been a setback for planned activities.

Mr. Ababio also made the connection between the Return of people in the Diaspora and Ghana’s economic emancipation capsuled in Ghana Beyond Aid agenda. According to Mr. Ababio in his address, The Return of the Diaspora is however not only for Ghana to rely on its Brothers and Sisters for their skills and resources but also to ensure the DIaspora is brought home and re-integrated.

Mr. Ababio further expressed his gratitude for the opening of the African Diaspora Business and Cultural Centre which will help shine light on how Ghana can move forward with the Diaspora.

Watch the full address below:

Diaspora Affairs Hosts High Profile Delegates from eSwatini

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Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President hosted a High Profile Delegation from eSwatini on 7th June, 2021 in the Auditorium at Jubilee House. The team made up of government officials from eSwatini were led by Ms. Jennifer Neves, Under Secretary – Administration, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to learn about Ghana’s strategies towards effective mobilising of the Diaspora.

Welcoming the team to Jubilee House, the Director of Diaspora Affairs Mr. Akwasi Awua-Ababio mentioned the Diaspora was a huge asset and the biggest asset any country has outside of its shores. Thus it was important to effectively strategise to leverage this resource in ways which are mutually beneficial. He further elaborated some ways which Ghana has engaged the Diaspora including the Diaspora Roadshow events and the Homecoming Summit.

Ms. Jennifer Neves also shared the excitement of the team as they were learning a lot in Ghana and mentioned her team was eager to go back home and apply many things they have learnt from Ghana.

In an engaging question and answer session, some issues which arose included how Ghana has been able to manage the trust deficits between home countries and their Diaspora to which Mr. Ababio responded it was important to at all times utilise consultations and stakeholder engagements to allow for the Diaspora to feel included in governance and policy formulation. Moreover, there were discussions around the operations of the Office as well as how to effectively collate a comprehensive database of one’s diaspora.

Deputy-Director, Mad. Nadia Adongo Musah also shared some of the work Diaspora Affairs has done thus far and encouraged the team to push to have their Diaspora champion causes for their Diaspora.

 

Zakisha Brown meets with Mr. Akwasi Awua Ababio, Director, Diaspora Affairs

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Canadian-born Jamaican artist Zakisha Brown paid the Director a visit on Wednesday, 7th April 2021. The meeting had her express her profound admiration and appreciation towards Ghana, springing from the Year of Return 2019 which was the catalyst for her coming to Ghana. Zakisha mentioned staying for three months then she fell in love with the country that when she left she made the hit song Went to Ghana, which points to some of her experiences and observations in the country. Zakisha also mentioned she is currently working on her debut album as well as filming the visuals in Ghana. She also mentioned she is into some community service projects which includes workshops for teenagers in schools as well partaking in some beach clean ups as well as farming.

The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Mr. Akwasi Awua Ababio on the receiving end thanked Zakisha for making it a point to come visit and introduce herself to the office. He also expressed gratitude that Zakisha amongst many had responded to the clarion call put out by Ghana to have the Diaspora come engage and interact with Africa through Ghana. Zakisha’s story is a testament to the success of the Year of Return which has now morphed to become Beyond the Return to help the country consolidate the gains made from the event. This visit, for the Director, was the first of many mutual interactions and engagements with the Office and Zakisha.