The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is stepping up efforts to attract investment from Ghanaians living abroad, with plans to channel billions of dollars in diaspora funds into Ghana’s capital market and development projects.
The initiative is aimed at converting part of the country’s growing remittance inflows into long-term investment capital that can support businesses, infrastructure development and broader economic growth.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement with broker-dealers and capital market operators, SEC Deputy Director-General for Finance, Mensah Thompson, said recent interactions with Ghanaian communities in the United Kingdom and the United States revealed strong interest among diaspora investors seeking credible opportunities to invest in Ghana.
According to him, many Ghanaians abroad are willing to commit funds to profitable projects at home but face challenges identifying trusted and regulated investment channels.
He cited discussions with Ghana’s diplomatic representatives in the UK and the US, where concerns were raised about the lack of structured mechanisms for diaspora communities to participate in national development through investment.
Mr. Thompson noted that some diaspora groups have expressed interest in financing large-scale infrastructure projects, provided there are clear business models, transparent governance structures and defined returns on investment.
The SEC believes this presents a significant opportunity for the country’s capital market, especially at a time when remittance inflows continue to grow. He pointed out that Ghana receives billions of dollars annually in remittances, and even a fraction of those funds directed into regulated investment products could significantly boost market liquidity and economic development.
To address the gap, the Commission is collaborating with broker-dealers and other market intermediaries to design investment frameworks and financial instruments capable of attracting diaspora capital.
The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to deepen participation in Ghana’s capital market, create new funding sources for development projects and provide overseas Ghanaians with secure avenues to invest in the country’s future.
SEC officials say the success of the programme could unlock substantial investment resources while strengthening the role of the capital market in Ghana’s economic transformation.
