By Fuvi Kloku for Sankofaonline
CHICAGO, IL — Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Victor Smith, has called on Ghanaians in the diaspora to become active partners in driving investment, industrialization, job creation, and economic transformation in Ghana through strategic collaboration with American investors.
Speaking at an event organized by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chicago Branch, Ambassador Victor Smith addressed party executives, community leaders, and members of the Ghanaian diaspora who gathered for an evening of dialogue centered on Ghana’s development agenda, investment opportunities, and the role of the diaspora in advancing the country’s economic transformation.
The program commenced with an opening prayer delivered by Madam Rosemary Amegashie, who invoked God’s blessings and guidance for the success of the gathering and for the continued progress of Ghana.
Among NDC branch executives present were:
- Selasie Atsutse, Newly Elected Branch Secretary
- Diana Darko, Women’s Organizer
- Delali Asamani, Branch Communications Officer
- Ebenezer Ekuma, Chapter Organizer
The gathering was hosted by Hon. Frank Quashie, the NDC Chicago Branch Organizer, who welcomed guests and highlighted the important role of the diaspora in supporting Ghana’s national development. Frank, who is also seeking to become the next Member of Parliament for the Ada Constituency in Ghana’s Greater Accra Region, emphasized the need for stronger engagement between Ghanaians abroad and communities back home.
In a touching moment during the evening , Ambassador Victor Smith was presented with a beautifully crafted portrait of himself dressed in an elegant suit. The presentation drew applause from attendees and served as a gesture of appreciation for his distinguished public service, diplomatic leadership, and enduring commitment to the advancement of Ghana.
Introduced by a Childhood Connection
Ambassador Smith was introduced by Sena Alinco, a longtime resident from the Ambassador’s community in Accra ,Ghana. Reflecting on their shared upbringing, Alinco praised Smith’s humility, leadership, and lifelong dedication to public service, recalling that even as a young man, Victor stood out among his peers as someone destined for national significance.
A Mission to Mobilize Investment
Taking the floor, Ambassador Smith outlined his mission in Washington, D.C., emphasizing that diaspora professionals possess a unique strategic advantage in connecting Western capital with Ghanaian enterprise.
Reflecting on his appointment, Smith disclosed that he had initially preferred to remain at the Jubilee House to assist the President in implementing the government’s “Reset Ghana” agenda. However, he accepted the diplomatic assignment at the President’s request, recognizing the critical importance of building international partnerships and attracting investment into Ghana.
A seasoned diplomat who previously served as Ghana’s Ambassador to both the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom, Smith stressed that his ultimate objective remains improving living standards in Ghana and creating conditions that encourage more Ghanaians living abroad to return home and contribute to national development.
Fortune 500 Momentum and National Airline Revival
Ambassador Smith highlighted growing international confidence in Ghana, citing recent engagements between President John Dramani Mahama and several Fortune 500 companies in New York.
Among the most significant developments, he announced that aerospace giant Boeing is expected to visit Ghana in December to assist in efforts to re-establish a national airline. Such a development, he noted, would restore Ghana’s presence in international aviation and position the country alongside successful African carriers operating in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia.
He further revealed that global technology leaders Amazon and Microsoft have also expressed interest in supporting various aspects of Ghana’s development agenda.
The ambassador emphasized that Ghana’s status as host of the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) places the nation at the center of a market of more than 1.4 billion people, making the country one of Africa’s most attractive investment destinations.
According to the Ambassador, international interest in Ghana is growing rapidly and could soon result in unprecedented demand for Ghanaian visas, as investors and businesses seek opportunities within Africa’s emerging economic hub.
Leveraging the 24-Hour Economy to Curb Brain Drain
Urging members of the diaspora not to remain spectators, Ambassador Smith identified substantial investment opportunities in agriculture, mining, manufacturing, infrastructure, and technology.
He assured attendees that the Ghana Mission in Washington stands ready to facilitate connections between diaspora investors and appropriate institutions in Ghana to ensure successful partnerships.
A major focus of his address was the need to halt the growing migration of talented young graduates who leave Ghana in search of opportunities overseas. To address this challenge, Ambassador Smith championed the government’s proposed 24-Hour Economy, a policy aimed at creating round-the-clock industrial production through multiple work shifts.
He pointed to the success of Chinese-operated factories in Ghana, which currently employ thousands of young men and women manufacturing products destined for export markets, including the United States. Similar industrial initiatives, he argued, can be replicated by diaspora investors willing to seize the opportunities emerging in Ghana’s evolving economy.
A Call to Act Now
Ambassador Smith concluded by reassuring attendees that investing in Ghana does not require abandoning their lives, careers, or businesses in the United States. Rather, he encouraged the Chicago diaspora community to begin positioning themselves now, before increasing international competition makes entry into Ghana’s most promising sectors more difficult.
His message was clear: the time for the diaspora to move from observers to active stakeholders in Ghana’s economic transformation is now.
As attendees interacted with the Ambassador following the event, the atmosphere reflected a growing optimism that the partnership between Ghana’s diaspora and homeland can become a powerful catalyst for investment, job creation, and sustainable national development.
