Diaspora investors in the United States have called for stronger, transparent and well-regulated investment systems in Ghana to help shift financial inflows from routine remittances into productive national investments.
The appeal was made at the Bank of Ghana’s first-ever Remit2Invest roundtable held in Virginia, on the sidelines of the 2026 IMF/World Bank Group Spring Meetings.
Participants acknowledged that Ghana’s improving macroeconomic indicators, including a stabilising cedi and easing inflation, were encouraging signs for investment. However, they warned that persistent trust deficits, weak governance structures, and regulatory bottlenecks continue to discourage large-scale diaspora capital mobilisation.
Key concerns raised included lack of secure investment channels, unresolved land acquisition challenges, failed project accountability, and complex regulatory procedures that often frustrate potential investors.
Dr Paul Ametepei of Inspired Options Incorporated stressed the need for Ghana to transition from informal remittance flows to structured investment platforms that guarantee transparency and capital protection. He said well-designed investment vehicles could transform diaspora remittances into long-term economic growth drivers and reduce dependence on foreign aid.
Dr Ayim Akyea-Djamson of Metropolitan Cardiovascular Consultants urged the development of diaspora-focused financial instruments such as pension funds and venture capital schemes, arguing that remittances should be repositioned as investment capital rather than social transfers.
Professor Charles Appeadu of the University of Cincinnati also called for professionally managed and transparent investment products, noting that diaspora investors need assurance that their contributions translate into tangible and growing assets within Ghana’s economy.
Responding to the concerns, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, assured stakeholders that government was working on reforms to integrate diaspora capital into national development strategies. He highlighted ongoing plans to introduce diaspora bonds, strengthen fintech regulation, and explore blockchain and decentralised finance systems to improve transparency and efficiency.
The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), led by Mr Simon Madjie, also announced new digital reforms aimed at simplifying business registration for diaspora investors and improving access to verified investment opportunities across key sectors.
Authorities say the combined reforms are intended to build investor confidence and position the diaspora as a central pillar in Ghana’s long-term economic transformation.
