By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
Harnessing diaspora contributions for national development has taken centre stage at a capacity-building workshop held in Accra. The programme, organised by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in collaboration with the National Development Planning Commission, is aimed at strengthening Ghana’s approach to integrating migration into national and medium-term development planning.
An estimated 1.7 million Ghanaians live abroad across more than 50 countries, forming a vast network of skills, expertise and investment potential.
Their financial contributions remain significant, with annual remittance inflows ranging between 4 billion and 5 billion US dollars, and exceeding 6 billion US dollars in peak years, contributing nearly 7 percent of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product.
These inflows support over 30 percent of households, funding education, healthcare, housing and small businesses, while helping to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods.
Despite this, a large share of remittances is used for consumption, highlighting the need for policies that redirect funds into productive sectors such as agriculture, real estate and small and medium enterprises, where over 30 percent of inflows are already invested.
Remittances have also proven resilient, remaining stable during global shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and in some cases exceeding foreign direct investment and official development assistance.
Globally, over 281 million people are international migrants, representing 3.6 percent of the world’s population, with remittance flows to low- and middle-income countries exceeding 650 billion US dollars annually.
Speaking on behalf of the Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission, Tweneboah Koduah noted that while billions of dollars are received annually from Ghanaians living abroad, a significant portion is directed towards immediate consumption rather than productive investment. He stressed the need for deliberate policy actions to channel remittances into sectors that can promote job creation, enterprise development and economic transformation.
Mr. Tweneboah Koduah indicated that remittances account for nearly 7 percent of GDP and have remained resilient even during periods of global economic uncertainty, at times surpassing foreign direct investment and official development assistance.
He noted that these figures highlight both opportunities and gaps, calling for improved data systems, coordinated policies and structured engagement to fully harness diaspora contributions.
Economic Affairs Officer at ECA, Amadou Diouf, said Ghana has made progress between 2024 and 2025 in strengthening institutional frameworks for diaspora engagement with support from the Commission. He emphasised the need to sustain momentum by integrating migration into national development plans and improving coordination across institutions, adding that remittances must be treated as a strategic pillar within development frameworks.
Mr. Diouf further noted that Ghana is part of a broader multi-country initiative across Africa that promotes shared learning and the exchange of best practices in migration and development.
Participants engaged in breakout and plenary sessions to propose actionable strategies, with a strong call for a coordinated and data-driven approach to migration governance.
The workshop, running from April 21 to 23, 2026, in Accra, has brought together government officials, development partners and technical experts to strengthen Ghana’s migration and development framework.
It is expected to position diaspora contributions as a key driver of economic transformation and sustainable national development.
