Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, has urged Ghanaians living abroad to return home with their skills and partner with investors to support the country’s economic transformation.
Speaking during visits to Ghanaian churches in Worcester, Massachusetts, Ambassador Smith noted that the nation’s underdevelopment remains a major reason many citizens choose to stay abroad.
“Many would be home if Ghana were half as developed as the U.S.,” he said. “It’s painful to see our people seeking opportunities elsewhere when they could be contributing to the growth of their own country.”
He explained that his mission in the United States is to attract investors and encourage strategic partnerships with the diaspora. According to him, skilled Ghanaians are key to building industries, creating jobs, and driving sustainable development.
“I am expecting that investors will want people with your kind of skills to partner them in Ghana,” he said. “We need your expertise, your experience, and your innovative approaches to help transform our nation.”
Ambassador Smith emphasised that creating well-paying jobs is critical to reducing migration and fostering national growth.
“Jobs, jobs, jobs — that is the priority. We want fewer people feeling forced to leave the country in search of opportunities,” he added.
He also announced plans for a formal engagement with the Ghanaian community in Worcester and the wider Massachusetts area, where issues of development, investment, and diaspora collaboration will be discussed in detail.
Ambassador Smith ended by appealing to faith communities to continue praying for Ghana’s leadership and for peace, noting that spiritual support remains essential to national progress.
