The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has called on Ghanaians living in Canada to move beyond emotional ties to their homeland and play a more strategic role in Ghana’s economic transformation through investment, innovation, and professional partnerships.
Addressing members of the Ghanaian community in Canada ahead of Ghana’s international football match against Panama, the revered traditional leader described the Ghanaian diaspora as one of the strongest bridges between Ghana and Canada, noting that their unique understanding of both societies places them in a powerful position to contribute to national development.
“The diaspora must now move beyond emotional attachment to strategic engagement,” Otumfuo stated. “Remittances are important, but they are not enough.”
He urged Ghanaian professionals and investors abroad to channel their expertise and resources into initiatives that can create long-term value for the country. According to him, Ghana needs diaspora-backed investment funds, mentorship networks, venture capital, technology transfer programmes, export partnerships, and structured business platforms.
The Asantehene highlighted several areas where members of the diaspora could make a significant impact. He encouraged Ghanaian professionals in Canada to mentor young entrepreneurs in Ghana, engineers to collaborate with technical institutions, health professionals to support healthcare innovation, and investors to explore opportunities in housing, education, digital services, and manufacturing.
“Let the Ghanaian professional in Toronto mentor a young entrepreneur in Kumasi. Let the Ghanaian engineer in Calgary partner with technical institutes in Ghana. Let the Ghanaian health professional in Ontario support health innovation at home,” he said.
Otumfuo stressed that the diaspora should become “an empowering bridge, not only a sentimental bridge,” emphasizing that meaningful partnerships are essential for national progress.
Quoting a traditional Akan proverb, he remarked that “one head does not constitute a thousand,” adding that no nation, business, or generation succeeds in isolation.
“Partnership is the architecture of progress,” he said.
The Asantehene also underscored the need for mutual trust and accountability in Ghana-Canada relations. While encouraging investors to undertake proper due diligence, he called on Ghana to present credible and bankable opportunities and urged Canada to engage Ghana with confidence rather than outdated perceptions.
He further appealed to governments to create enabling environments for investment through predictable regulations, efficient ports, fair taxation, reliable power supply, transparent procurement systems, judicial confidence, and policy consistency.
His remarks come at a time when Ghana continues to seek increased diaspora participation in key sectors of the economy as part of broader efforts to attract investment, create jobs, and accelerate development.
The speech was widely viewed as a call for a new era of diaspora engagement—one driven not only by patriotism, but by structured economic collaboration and sustainable development.
SOURCE: MAVIS FANTEVI
