Ghana has stepped up its game to attract investments and the move to grow foreign capital has compelled government to move into full gear with the ‘Beyond the Return’ project.

Following a successful ‘Year of Return’ in 2019, which saw thousands of Ghanaians in the diaspora including African Americans, tracing their roots home, the government is this time around taking the initiative a notch higher in an ambitious programme - 'Beyond the Return'. The 10-year programme has been given legal backing through the Diaspora Engagement Policy.

Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President, Akwasi Awua Ababio disclosed to Joy Business Charles Ayitey the policy is embracing all stakeholders needed to make this decade-long initiative more competitive.

“In all, this policy defines the framework and action plan that has to take place to enable the diaspora to come in as a partner. We are not saying we won’t reach out to angel investors, we can do both by reaching out to available diaspora investment – people who have interest in Ghana.”

The coronavirus has had a toll on tourism. Ghana is no exception as the tourism sector lost billions of cedis to the pandemic. But Akwasi Awua Ababio says there's a plan to deepen interest.

“We have a plan to fashion out needed reforms to attract the diaspora amid the pandemic. With our aggressive vaccination campaign against Covid-19, rigorous testing regime at the airport, all speak to our strategic plan,” Akwasi argues.

As Government embarks on ambitious Beyond the Return initiative to woo diasporan investment this year, a Ghanaian in the Diaspora, Francis Flair who is a Customer Service specialist based in the USA, says the success of this programme rests on how strict and impressive customer service will be in the country.

In an interaction with him on customer service through the eyes of the diaspora he said “in order to ensure we have the diaspora return after this programme, Ghana must systematize its standards and reforms.

“It can't be the flavour of the month. If the message gets out, they come and it's not the same, we will lose them forever. Customer Service starts from the airports to the shuttle bus and even the hotels and down to our streets, business environment and it goes on and on. If we miss out on a good customer service in any value chain, we stand to lose," Francis Flair told Charles Ayitey.

Oscar Mawuli Awuku is an upcoming artiste whose works have high demand in the diaspora. Being an expressionist artist, Mawuli details how economic paths for the industry will be created through Beyond the Return.

“If artists are given the chance to perform, it will bring out great investment into the sector. Arts and crafts have been the backbone of diaspora entertainment. We can't stand to lose out”, he said.

Close to $3 billion was realised from the Year of Return in 2019.

Amid the coronavirus, Akwasi Awua Ababio is hopeful the 10-year Beyond the Return will rake in triple what was gained in 2019.