WASHINGTON, D.C.
The Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, Rt. Hon. Alban S. K. Bagbin, has challenged Ewes living in the diaspora to leverage their strong cultural networks to promote not only unity and cultural preservation, but also economic development and investment in Ghana.
According to the Speaker, the Ewe diaspora has a significant role to play in transforming cultural connections into sustainable economic opportunities that can contribute to the development of communities and improve the livelihoods of people in Ghana.
He urged Ewes abroad to move beyond the traditional practice of sending remittances to relatives and communities back home and consider investing in businesses, productive ventures and long-term development projects that can generate employment and create sustainable wealth.
Rt. Hon. Bagbin made the call while serving as the Special Guest of Honour at celebrations marking the 33rd anniversary of the Council of Ewe Associations of North America (CEANA) in Washington, D.C.
The Speaker noted that the Ewe community has demonstrated over the years that culture can serve as a powerful tool for bringing people together. However, he said the same networks and relationships could be deliberately harnessed to achieve broader economic and developmental objectives.
He encouraged members of the diaspora to see their cultural associations as platforms capable of facilitating partnerships, investments, knowledge-sharing and business development.
“You have shown that culture should not only bring people together to celebrate. Culture can bring people together to develop,” he said.
The statement underscores the need for cultural organisations in the diaspora to expand their focus beyond social and cultural activities and explore practical ways of contributing to development back home.
For the Speaker, the strength of the Ewe diaspora lies not only in its numbers and cultural bonds, but also in the skills, professional expertise, financial resources and international networks of its members.
He therefore encouraged Ewes in North America and other parts of the world to consider how these resources could be channelled into productive investments in Ghana.
Remittances from Ghanaians abroad remain an important source of financial support for families and communities. However, the Speaker’s call places emphasis on moving a step further — from individual financial support to structured investment that can produce lasting economic benefits.
Such investments, he suggested, could support the establishment and expansion of businesses, create jobs for young people, strengthen local economies and contribute to the development of communities.
The approach could also provide members of the diaspora with opportunities to maintain a more direct and sustainable connection with their homeland.
Rather than viewing the relationship between the diaspora and Ghana primarily through the lens of remittances, the Speaker’s message points towards a model in which diaspora networks become channels for capital, expertise, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The call was made as the Council of Ewe Associations of North America (CEANA) marked its 33rd anniversary in Washington, D.C.
The anniversary provided an opportunity for members of the Ewe community in North America to celebrate their shared heritage, reflect on the achievements of the organisation and discuss issues affecting the Ewe people and Ghana more broadly.
Over the years, CEANA has served as an umbrella platform for Ewe associations in North America, providing a space for cultural expression, networking, community engagement and the preservation of Ewe identity among people living outside Ghana.
The anniversary celebration therefore carried significance beyond cultural festivities, bringing together members of the diaspora and stakeholders to reflect on the role they can play in Ghana’s development.
The Speaker’s message also highlights the broader potential of Ghana’s diaspora communities as partners in national development.
Across the world, Ghanaians living abroad contribute to the country’s economy through remittances, investments, professional expertise and international connections. Turning these contributions into more structured and sustainable investments could have a significant impact on job creation and economic growth.
For the Ewe community, the existing network of associations and professionals provides a foundation upon which such initiatives could be developed.
The challenge, therefore, is to translate the strong cultural bonds that have sustained the community for generations into practical economic partnerships.
This could include encouraging diaspora members to invest collectively in viable businesses, supporting young entrepreneurs, establishing development-oriented funds, facilitating skills transfer and building partnerships between professionals abroad and institutions in Ghana.
The Speaker’s remarks reinforce the idea that culture should not be viewed solely as a means of preserving history and identity.
Cultural networks can also provide the trust, relationships and sense of shared responsibility needed to mobilise people around common economic and social objectives.
For a community with a strong presence in Ghana and abroad, these networks can become valuable instruments for development if strategically organised.
The challenge issued by Rt. Hon. Bagbin is therefore not simply a call for increased financial contributions from the diaspora. It is a call for a change in approach — from consumption and short-term support towards investment, enterprise creation and sustainable development.
As CEANA marks 33 years of promoting Ewe identity and unity in North America, the Speaker’s message provides an opportunity for the organisation and its members to reflect on the next phase of their engagement with Ghana.
The future, he suggested, should see cultural connections strengthened by economic partnerships that benefit both the diaspora and communities back home.
By turning culture into a bridge for investment, knowledge and enterprise, the Ewe diaspora could play an even greater role in creating opportunities, generating employment and contributing to Ghana’s long-term development.
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