Government is set to offer incentives to attract Ghanaians abroad to return home to help in the country’s development as part of a new diaspora engagement policy.
Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botwe announced this when she launched Ghana’s 60th independence anniversary in the UK.
The policy will target “Ghanaians of international repute: architects, Ghanaians who have excelled in the area of ICT, even when it comes to fashion, hairdressers, bakers and all kinds of expertise,” Ayorkor Botwe told Joy News.
The Minister said that the policy will also provide incentives “to ensure that whatever they come to do is rewarded”.
The ‘60 years on’ event at the London School of Oriental and African Studies brought together hundreds of Ghanaians living in the UK to join in the anniversary celebrations.
The Ghanaian-UK community got a chance to watch Paul Adom-Otchere’s documentary film entitled ‘From Gold Coast to Ghana, a Glorious History of Self-Determination’.
The documentary generated a fair bit of controversy back home but speaking to Joy News, Mr Adom-Otchere explained that the film, which has been updated for the UK audience focuses on the creation of a civilisation.
He noted that “it is about uniting and reconciling our history”.
After the screening of the film, Mr. Adom-Otchere was hosted by Richard Dowden, Director of the Royal African Society to a Q&A session where the audience got to ask questions.
For the Deputy Chief of Staff and Deputy Chair of the Ghana, 60 years on Planning Committee, the choice of UK for the launch is an obvious one, not only because UK happens to be Ghana’s colonial master from whom she gained her independence, but it is also home to a large Ghanaian community.
He emphasised the determination of the government to use the anniversary to mobilize Ghanaians, regardless of their location in the world to help in Ghana’s development.
