Ceana: Tanko Atokple Calls For Diaspora Expertise To Drive Volta Development

Member of Ghana’s Council of State, H.E. Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple, has called for a major shift in how Ghana, particularly the Volta Region, engages its diaspora, saying the contribution of Ghanaians abroad must go beyond remittances.

Speaking at the ongoing 2026 Conference of the Council of Ewe Associations of North America, CEANA, in Maryland, Mr. Kwamigah-Atokple said the Ewe diaspora represents a significant pool of professional knowledge, expertise, relationships and international experience that can be channelled into sustainable development at home.

He noted that the diaspora includes doctors, academics, engineers, lawyers, entrepreneurs, researchers, financial professionals and technology experts whose skills and institutional connections could help strengthen institutions in Ghana.

According to him, stronger mechanisms are needed to connect professionals abroad with institutions and development needs in Ghana.

He suggested that Ghanaian professionals in North America should be given pathways to share their expertise with institutions at home, while investors should be presented with credible and well-prepared opportunities, particularly in the Volta Region.

He also called for partnerships between universities in North America and Ghanaian institutions, as well as mentorship opportunities linking successful entrepreneurs abroad with young businesses in Ghana.

Mr. Kwamigah-Atokple stressed that such contributions do not require members of the diaspora to permanently relocate to Ghana.

He said CEANA has an opportunity to transform the strong connection between Ewe communities in North America and Ghana into practical partnerships capable of creating jobs, strengthening institutions and improving livelihoods.

“We can live here and still build there. We can succeed here and still create opportunities there,” he said in his address.

The Council of State Member said the ultimate measure of the diaspora’s relationship with Ghana should not simply be how frequently people travel home or how much money they send, but what their connection produces for communities and institutions.

He therefore challenged CEANA members to identify investors, universities, professional expertise and business opportunities within their networks that could be connected to Ghana.

The call comes as CEANA continues discussions on how the Ewe diaspora can contribute more strategically to the development of the Volta Region and Ghana as a whole.