By Hafsa Obeng
Accra, Jan. 24, GNA – Ambassador Dr. Erieka Bennett urged Ghana’s Tourism Minister-designate, Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, to continue and strengthen the country’s diaspora engagement initiatives for enhanced growth and collaboration.
Ghana, she noted, held a prominent place as the most pan-African country, which made it essential to maintain and enhance these engagements.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Ambassador Bennett highlighted the importance of the citizenship programme, which grants the diaspora Ghanaian citizenship, allowing them to contribute to the country’s development in many ways.
She urged the minister-designate to prioritize continuing those impactful initiative.
“President Mahama during his first term initiated the programme that recognized the diaspora and encouraged them to invest particularly in the tourism industry, so continuing this would bring more investment and development of the sector,” she said.
Ambassador Bennett praised the “Kids in Tourism” program, initiated by the Ghana Tourism Authority and supported by the Diaspora Africa Summit, for raising awareness among young people about Ghana’s tourism and culture.
She mentioned that the Diaspora African Summit would be held in October this year, with a focus on encouraging members of the diaspora to explore investment opportunities in Ghana’s tourism sector.
“We will be briefing her more on it when she assumes office and we expect her to support us.
“We are the first diplomatic mission of its kind in the world dealing specifically with the diaspora, so as she comes on board, we will collaborate with her to get more people with African descent to come into the country at various times to support,” she stated.
Ambassador Bennett expressed confidence that the Minister-designate would succeed in her role at the ministry.
“She knows the system, knows the people, knows the industry with all her experience as an actress, part of the cultural community, and a former deputy minister. She is going to do a very good job.”
She encouraged the minister-designate to remain strong, open-minded, and true to herself, emphasizing that her wealth of experience would contribute valuable knowledge to the position and help elevate Ghana to new heights.
The DAF, established as the first and only diplomatic mission dedicated to the African diaspora, holds full diplomatic privileges in Ghana.
Since its inception in 2007, the forum has supported the African Union’s goals, focusing on mobilizing the diaspora to contribute to Africa’s development.
The DAF’s mission involves advocating for the African diaspora’s involvement in Africa’s progress while fostering stronger connections between the diaspora, Ghana, and the continent.
GNA