Ghanaian leaders urge mobilization of diaspora and retired experts

Ghanaian leaders and researchers are calling for new strategies to utilize the expertise of both the diaspora and retired professionals to drive national development.

Addressing the Conference of the Council of Ewe Associations of North America, Council of State member Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple urged Ghana to move beyond relying on remittances. He proposed creating structured channels for diaspora professionals in fields such as medicine, engineering, and technology to provide mentorship and technical expertise to Ghanaian institutions, particularly in the Volta Region, without requiring permanent relocation.

Separately, a study by the Centre for Retired Experts (CREX) revealed that 96 percent of surveyed Ghanaian pensioners are willing to continue contributing to the country after retirement. The research found that while 90 percent of retirees are willing to mentor young professionals, only about one in five remains professionally active. The study highlighted a significant gap between the available skills of retirees and the systems currently in place to engage them in governance, education, and business advisory roles.