Professor of African Studies at the University of Ghana, Prof. Obádélé Kambon, has called on Ghana to establish systems and infrastructure to support the permanent return of Africans in the diaspora, saying existing arrangements are largely designed for short-term visits and tourism.
He said the country must demonstrate a stronger commitment to repatriation by developing structures and processes that would enable people of African descent to settle permanently in Ghana.
Prof. Kambon made the call while discussing the need to align Ghana’s repatriation agenda with the systems required to accommodate those willing to return and make the country their home.
“If we are serious about repatriation, there has to be parity in terms of what systems are there for you to be able to come,” he said.
He explained that although Ghana had made progress in promoting tourism and attracting Africans in the diaspora, the infrastructure supporting these efforts was not sufficient to facilitate permanent resettlement.
According to him, institutions such as the Ghana Tourism Authority, the Ministry of Tourism and the Ghana Tourism Development Company have played important roles in promoting Ghana as a destination for visitors. However, he said the country needed comparable institutional arrangements dedicated to repatriation.
“Tourism is the first step in order to even get to the point of repatriation, so I don’t want to downplay that at all,” he said, while stressing the need to move beyond tourism to long-term settlement.
Prof. Kambon cited the experience of Senegal, where the concept of Teranga, which represents hospitality, is deeply embedded in the country’s social values. He said the principle emphasises welcoming people and helping them find safety and belonging.
He noted that Ghana also had a strong tradition of hospitality but needed to translate that goodwill into practical systems that would support people seeking to return permanently.
The academic further recounted that a proposed decade of repatriation had faced delays in receiving endorsement from the previous administration, which, he said, expressed uncertainty about whether the country wanted diaspora visitors to stay permanently or return only for short periods.
He said the new government endorsed the initiative within a week of assuming office, recognising its potential to encourage Africans in the diaspora to spend an extended period in Ghana and consider permanent settlement.
Prof. Kambon stressed that the initiative should not be treated merely as an opportunity for people to visit Ghana for a week or two, but as a broader effort to encourage long-term return and resettlement.
He said the country’s commitment to repatriation must be reflected in the institutions, processes and infrastructure available to prospective returnees.
His comments highlight the need for Ghana to complement its tourism promotion efforts with practical measures that make permanent resettlement more accessible to Africans in the diaspora.
Source: Newspyramid.com
