By Hafsa Obeng
Accra, Oct. 12, GNA – The Diaspora Africa Forum (DAF) Embassy has launched a mobile application to connect Africans in the diaspora with opportunities in Ghana and across the continent, particularly in citizenship, tourism, business, networking and charitable initiatives.
Dr Erieka Bennett, the Founder and Head of Mission of the DAF Embassy for the African Diaspora, said the application would strengthen engagement between Africa and its historical and continental diasporas.
She explained that the historical diaspora comprised people whose ancestors were displaced through slavery, while the continental diaspora consisted of Africans who had moved to other parts of the world for work, education and better opportunities.
Dr Bennett said African leaders increasingly recognised the importance of involving both groups in the continent’s development, describing the diaspora as the sixth region of Africa.
She said the diaspora comprised more than 380 million people worldwide, making technology an important tool for connecting them to their ancestral homeland and facilitating their participation in Africa’s development.
The application, she said, would provide information on the Embassy’s activities, facilitate access to resources and create opportunities for people across the world to engage with its programmes.
Dr Bennett said the platform was a work in progress and urged users to provide feedback and suggestions to improve its features.
She encouraged individuals and organisations that shared the Embassy’s vision to support its activities and programmes, including youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and charitable initiatives.
She said the Embassy relied on support from the diaspora and its friends to sustain its work, adding that public awareness and wider engagement were important to expanding its reach.
Mr Kevin Williams, the Director of the DAF Youth Empowerment Training Centre and Managing Director of Afriam, said the application was designed as a one-stop platform for people interested in Africa.
He said it would provide information on citizenship, repatriation, tourism, land-related interests, business opportunities and networking, while enabling users to participate in development initiatives in Ghana.
Mr Williams said the platform would also help promote the Centre’s activities and other DAF programmes, including youth development, sports and initiatives supporting young women entrepreneurs.
He said the Centre, established in May 2023, had trained young people and immigration officers and participated in the President’s One Million Coders Initiative.
The Centre also provided skills development and training to prepare young people for employment while helping them develop the character and competencies needed to contribute to national development.
Mr Williams said the Embassy was seeking support for its programmes, including scholarships and computers for students at the training centre.
He explained that the application provided options for one-time and recurring contributions to support the Centre’s work and other projects.
The platform also features a resource centre, a news feed providing diaspora-related information, tourism resources and links to the Embassy’s social media platforms.
Another feature, the Sankofa Wall, provides an opportunity for members of the global diaspora to honour their ancestors by placing their names on the platform.
He said the application could be downloaded from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, with a QR code also available to facilitate access.
He called on the diaspora and other stakeholders to explore the application, share information about its services and contribute ideas to improve its functionality and reach.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Hafsa Obeng
Email address: [email protected]