The Diaspora Transition Network, an affiliate of Ghana UK-Based Achievement (GUBA) Careers, has hosted major Ghanaian stakeholder institutions and the diaspora community in the country on major dynamics to consider in successfully transitioning to Ghana for business and permanent residency.

The flagship event, dubbed ‘The Diaspora Conversations’, is a one-stop-shop platform to equip diasporans about all there is to know to move and settle successfully and do business in Ghana.

Officials of key institutions, including the Office of the Diaspora Affairs at the Presidency, the Registrar General’s Department, Lands Commission, Ghana Tourism Authority, Social Security and National Insurance Trust, Ecobank, among others participated in the event. They engaged participants on the nitty-gritty of settling and doing business in the country.

Some selected enterprises owned and managed by Ghanaians from the diaspora shared their experiences in a panel discussion on coming to Ghana and starting from scratch, leveraging on business opportunities in the country.

The panel comprised of Director of Operations at Ekumfi Fruits and Juices, Frederick Kobbyna Acquaah, Founder and Managing Partner of CQ Legal and Consulting, Cynthia Quarcoo, Founders of Destination Africa Group, Michael and Abena Richardson, Director of Jackson and Co Designs, Vanessa Jackson-Cofie, and Owner of Prodigy Cooks, Cassandra Ntiamoah, among others.

President and CEO of GUBA Enterprises, Dentaa Amoateng MBE, said, “It is important that the diaspora occasionally meets various public sector departments to get first-hand information on doing business and living in Ghana and to also interact with forerunners, who have made the transition; listen to their stories and know the reality versus the dream. That is the platform the Diaspora Transition Network has been offering through the Diaspora Conversations”.

“Though making the effort to settle and do business in Ghana would present some challenges, getting to know the right institution to approach could lessen the burden and make things smoother. It is also very crucial for the diaspora to be patient and be part of the solution to build Ghana as the country is still growing.

"The point is that things don’t work rapidly as there is in Europe and the USA, and so we need to be patient with the system here to get the necessary results,” Dentaa Amoateng MBE said.

Project Lead of the Diaspora Transitions Network, Jennifer Djan-Krofa said, “diasporans need Ghanaians and Ghanaians need the diaspora.

Considering the huge expertise of people from the diaspora, Ghana presents an opportunity to rekindle the zeal from such persons who wish to contribute to the country’s development agenda.”

Dignitaries from various stakeholder institutions who participated at the engagement were, Office of Diaspora Affairs at the Presidency, Mr Einstein Baah Ntim, Head of Consumer Banking of Ecobank; Kate Thompson, Head of 1D1F, Kofi Addo, Head of Client Service & Principal Company Inspector at the Registrar General’s Department.

Others are Matilda Osei, Chief Actuary of SSNIT, Joseph Poku, Ag. Executive Secretary of Lands Commission, James Kobina Dadson, Assistant Commissioner of GRA, Dominic Naab, and Director of Standards and Quality Assurance at Ghana Tourism Authority, Alex Boakye.

Following this maiden event, GUBA says there will be subsequent smaller events with individual key stakeholders for a more in-depth understanding of how diasporans can connect and be supported.