Diasporan Affairs should not be about ‘Dirty December’

Ghana’s approach to diaspora engagement is a case of misplaced priorities.

While the world’s rising powers—China, India, Turkey, Israel—deployed their overseas talent to build semiconductor empires, AI giants, and billion-dollar startups, Ghana’s strategy begins and ends with “Detty December”: a carnival of concerts, parties, and hashtag-friendly photo ops designed to milk diasporans for tourism dollars.

This isn’t just shortsighted—it loses sight of the thousands of Ghanaian doctors, engineers, and innovators abroad who could transform this nation if given half the opportunity.

Let’s cut the noise: Ghana’s diaspora engagement is a joke. Ghana treats its diaspora like ATMs, not assets. While our best minds flee to build Silicon Valley startups, cure diseases in European hospitals, and launch satellites at NASA, our government’s grand plan is to sell them VIP tickets to AfroNation. Meanwhile, countries with far fewer resources—cough Turkey, cough South Korea—deployed diaspora talent to dominate global industries. When will we wake up?

Global Giants vs. Ghana’s Glitter

1. China’s Billion-Dollar Brain Gain
   While Ghana throws parties, China poached top diaspora scientists with $150,000 grants, cutting-edge labs, and presidential red carpets. Result? Returnees now lead 70% of China’s AI startups and propelled its tech exports to 25% of the global market. Meanwhile, Ghana’s AI sector? Still waiting for that “Year of Return” coding workshop.
2. India’s Silicon Valley Takeover
   India didn’t beg its diaspora for tourism dollars—it handed them stakes in national projects. Returnees like Microsoft’s Satya Nadella helped build a $245 billion IT empire, with diaspora-funded startups like Flipkart and Zomato. Ghana’s tech ecosystem? A graveyard of abandoned hubs and WhatsApp group debates.
3. Israel’s Diaspora-Fueled Defense Dominance
   Israel lured back U.S.-trained engineers to create the Iron Dome and cybersecurity giants like Check Point. Diaspora investments now pour $25 billion annually into its tech sector. Ghana’s defense tech? We’re still importing Israeli drones while our engineers design apps for food delivery.

These nations didn’t just host parties—they built systems to attract and deploy diaspora talent.

Ghana’s Diaspora Dilemma: Brain Drain and Missed Opportunities

Ghana’s brightest minds routinely leave for graduate studies abroad and seldom return. The World Bank estimates that 50% of Ghanaian professionals with advanced degrees live overseas—a staggering loss for a nation grappling with healthcare shortages, underfunded R&D, and a struggling tech ecosystem. Yet, instead of creating pathways for these experts to contribute, Ghana’s diaspora policy fixates on short-term gains: December tourism, symbolic “Year of Return” events, and feel-good cultural exchanges.

Where are Ghana’s equivalents of China’s Thousand Talents Plan or India’s Software Technology Parks? Where is the aggressive recruitment of Ghanaian engineers at NASA, doctors in the NHS, or Silicon Valley tech leads?

Beyond December: A Blueprint for Diaspora-Driven Growth

To harness the diaspora’s potential, Ghana must adopt strategies proven globally:

1. Reverse Migration Incentives:
   Offer tax breaks, research grants, and leadership roles to lure high-skilled professionals. China’s returnees received up to $150,000—Ghana could tailor similar schemes for healthcare, agriculture, and tech experts.
2. Diaspora-Led R&D Hubs:
   Partner with universities and firms to create innovation clusters. Turkey’s TÜB?TAK program repatriated 2,000 academics, boosting R&D spending to 1.1% of GDP. Ghana’s KNUST and UG could anchor similar hubs in AI, renewable energy, or fintech.
3. Digital Diaspora Networks:
   Platforms like Israel’s Global Jewry Portal connect diaspora investors with startups. Ghana’s Beyond the Return initiative should pivot from cultural events to matchmaking tech talent with local ventures.
4. Circular Migration Programs:
   Promote temporary returns for skills transfer. India’s “Reverse Brain Drain” program brought back 30,000 IT professionals by 2010. Ghanaian diaspora doctors could lead training programs at Korle-Bu, while engineers mentor startups in Kumasi.

A Call to Action: Prioritize Knowledge, Not Just Kwahu Paragliding

Ghana’s diaspora engagement must evolve beyond December’s fleeting euphoria. While festivals and tourism have their place, they cannot substitute for a coherent economic strategy. Every year, Ghana loses its future innovators to foreign labs, hospitals, and tech firms—only to court them with parties instead of purpose.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diasporan Affairs Directorate must urgently refocus. Let us learn from China, India, and Israel: diasporans are not ATMs for December, but architects of national transformation. It’s time to replace Detty December with Diaspora-Driven December—a month where returnees sign deals, launch startups, and train the next generation.

Ghana’s development cannot wait for another festive season. The talent is out there—let’s bring it home.

The author, Dr Ayure-Inga Mark Agana, is an Assistant Professor at Stonehill College, Boston, and host of The Assembly Podcast.

The post Diasporan Affairs should not be about ‘Dirty December’ first appeared on 3News.

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