Accra, May 19, GNA â The NuGhana International Expat Centre, a Ghana-based non-profit organization, has formally proposed the establishment of a specialised, multi-agency Diaspora Protection and Human Capital Task Force to the government of President John Dramani Mahama.
In a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the centre detailed that the proposal has been submitted to the President and copied to key state security and diaspora engagement bodies, including the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI), the Ministry of Interior, the Office of National Security, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of Diaspora Affairs, and the Black Star Experience Secretariat.
According to the statement, the proposed task force would create a coordinated apparatus designed to protect diasporans and foreign nationals from organised exploitation while systematically deploying their capital and expertise for national development.
In an interview, the Executive Director of NuGhana Expat Centre, Nana Kofi Opoku-Agyemang, disclosed that it was also preparing to launch the âAfroTango Platformâ, a new initiative aimed at assisting diasporans with system integration in Ghana and across Africa.
âMost diasporans find it difficult to navigate African systems that are not as structured as those in the West,â Mr. Opoku-Agyemang explained.
âThe AfroTango Platform will provide a structured bridge, offering orientation, vetted service referrals, and a trusted community to help them integrate smoothly for business or relocation.â
Endorsing the initiative, Nana Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin, President of the African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP) and a member of one of NuGhanaâs advisory councils, stressed the critical need for such a centre.
He noted that the centreâs leadership, having lived extensively in Western cultures, uniquely understood the nuances and challenges of migrating to Africa.
âHaving experts who comprehend the expectations of diasporans and the realities of the African market is invaluable,â Nana Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin said.
âWe appeal to the government to seriously consider this proposal. It is a very laudable call that, if implemented, will protect lives, secure investments, and finally unlock the immense potential of our people in the diaspora.â
According to the statement, several diasporans expressed optimism that a government-backed taskforce would be highly beneficial to the community.
One diasporan, a Ghanaian-American entrepreneur who relocated to Accra two years ago, noted that integration was much longer than expected.
âYou arrive full of hope, but the systems are unfamiliar. Many of us make costly mistakes, from land disputes to bad business partnerships; before we finally meet the right people who can guide us,â he said.
âA formal taskforce linked to national security would have saved me months of stress.â
Another diasporan, a creative professional considering a permanent move from Europe, shared her excitement mixed with caution.
âI am excited about the potential of relocating to Africa and investing here, but I am also very cautious about falling into the wrong hands. Knowing there is a state-backed apparatus that takes our safety and investment protection seriously would be a game-changer.â
She added, âNuGhana has already been providing invaluable grassroots support. Their call on government to formalise that support is exactly what the diaspora community needs. It would give us confidence to finally take the leap.â
The statement from NuGhana outlined three interlinked challenges the proposed taskforce seeks to address.
First, sophisticated criminal networks are systematically targeting high-net-worth diasporans and foreign nationals with well-planned land scams, business frauds, and extortion attempts.
Some of these schemes involve transnational elements, including foreign bank accounts and international accomplices.
âSecondly, there is a problem of invisible human capital. Many high-level professionals, including engineers, doctors, lawyers, academics, and tech entrepreneurs, arrive in Ghana, but the state currently has no unified system to know where they are, how their expertise can be engaged, or how to match them with national development priorities.
Third, a critical confidence gap persists. A significant number of high-net-worth individuals are ready to invest but explicitly cite fear of being scammed and the lack of a clear state protection apparatus as reasons for delay or cancellation.
The statement also noted that a major international media outlet is reportedly developing a documentary on the experiences of diasporans in Ghana, which may highlight cases of fraud and inadequate protection.
âThis makes it even more urgent that Ghana can point to a concrete, government-backed apparatus that shows we not only invite the diaspora but are committed to protecting them,â the statement read.
According to the statement, NuGhana has offered to place its existing infrastructure at the service of the state. Over the past four years, the centre has built a structured human capital and risk database that catalogues diasporans and foreign nationals by profession, skills, location, investment interests, and reported incidents.
Under the proposed framework, the Office of National Security would designate a liaison officer to coordinate with NuGhana.
In return for threat intelligence and high-value individual briefs from the centre, the state would provide security assessments, coordinate protective measures, and offer a clear point of escalation for serious cases, as well as utilizing Diasporan services needed for National Development.
The proposal argued that the taskforce would convert hesitant investors into confident partners, directly supporting the goals of the Presidentâs flagship Black Star Experience by ensuring that Ghanaâs promise to diasporans was matched by structured protection and engagement.
NuGhana confirmed it is ready for an initial meeting with the Presidentâs designated team to demonstrate its database and network and to begin implementing a pilot phase of the framework.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba