News
Kofi Okyere Darko Appointed Presidential Adviser on Diaspora Affairs
His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, has appointed renowned media personality, fashion entrepreneur, and cultural ambassador Kofi Okyere Darko (KOD) as Presidential Adviser on Diaspora Affairs.
With his extensive experience in connecting Ghana with its global diaspora, KOD’s appointment underscores President Mahama’s commitment to strengthening ties with Ghanaians abroad, fostering investment opportunities, and enhancing cultural and economic collaboration.
KOD over the years has created a longstanding relationship with Diasporans through his Nineteen57 Events company and other programmes like RhythmsOnDaRunway.
He has over the years become the bridge between Diasporans and the Ghanaian creative economy.
Against this backdrop, he has collaborated with many of them on varied projects and awarded some for their immense contributions.
It is expected that with his background in Public Relations and Marketing, he would create the necessary stakeholder relations for the benefit of Ghana.
The Mandate of the Diaspora Affairs Office, Office of the President, Ghana
Established in February 2017 within the Office of the President, the Diaspora Affairs Office was created to recognize and harness the immense contributions of Ghanaians living abroad, with a special focus on engaging African Americans and the broader African diaspora in reconnecting with their ancestral homeland.
At its core, the office is dedicated to strengthening ties between Ghana and its diaspora community. It serves as a bridge, fostering meaningful connections, celebrating achievements, and encouraging active participation in Ghana’s socio-economic development.
A key focus of the office is youth engagement, working closely with Ghanaian youth organizations abroad to ensure that second and third-generation Ghanaians remain connected to their heritage.
Additionally, the office maintains a comprehensive database of Ghanaians in the diaspora, streamlining their identification, location, and mobilization for national development.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the Diaspora Affairs Office ensures that Ghanaians abroad have a direct link to government agencies, promoting investment and development initiatives that drive economic growth.
The office played a pivotal role in landmark initiatives such as the “Year of Return, Ghana 2019,”which commemorated 400 years since the first recorded arrival of enslaved Africans in Virginia, USA.
This initiative not only encouraged the global African diaspora to visit Ghana but also positioned the country as a prime destination for cultural exchange and investment.
Building on this success, the “Beyond the Return” initiative was launched as a 10-year program to sustain tourism, foster homecoming experiences, and enhance economic collaboration between Ghana and the diaspora.
Furthermore, the Diaspora Affairs Office has been instrumental in boosting Ghana’s tourism visibility by facilitating visits from top-tier Hollywood actors and influential figures of African descent.
These high-profile visits have showcased Ghana’s rich cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and investment opportunities on a global stage.
Through its strategic initiatives, the Diaspora Affairs Office continues to position Ghana as the ultimate gateway for the African diaspora—unlocking opportunities in investment, knowledge transfer, technology, and cultural exchange while reaffirming the nation’s commitment to unity and progress.
News
NDC lied to Ghanaians – Dr. Bawumia states
Flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has chastised the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for what he describes as lies and empty promises made to Ghanaians ahead of the 2024 elections.
According to him, the NDC convinced voters with promises they had no intention of keeping, including paying cocoa farmers at least GH₵6,000, repealing laws to fight illegal mining, and creating jobs through a 24-hour economy.
He said it was now evident that those promises were only political gimmicks.
He made these remarks after filing his nomination papers to contest the NPP flagbearer slot at the party’s head office in Accra today.
Dr. Bawumia stressed that the NPP had learnt lessons from the 2024 defeat and would put those lessons to good use as the party prepared for the 2028 elections.
He noted that, unlike the NDC, the NPP had a track record of introducing policies that had positively impacted millions of Ghanaians, citing the Ghana Card, Mobile Money Interoperability and Agenda 111 projects.
The former Vice President urged NPP members to stay united and avoid internal attacks, warning that divisions would only weaken the party.
He emphasized that the NPP’s true opponent was the NDC and not its own members.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
Flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has spelt out his vision for Ghana should he be elected President in 2028.
Speaking after filing his nomination papers at the party’s headquarters in Accra, the former Vice President told an enthusiastic crowd of supporters that his ambition was to expand the economy and create opportunities for ordinary Ghanaians.
Dr. Bawumia explained that his presidency would focus on reducing the cost of living, supporting local industries, and introducing a flat tax system to make life easier for businesses and individuals.
He added that a future NPP government under his leadership would prioritize constituency-based development, ensuring that resources directly benefit communities across the country.
The two-term Vice President also highlighted his record in government, pointing to initiatives such as the Ghana Card, Mobile Money Interoperability, the Zipline Drone Delivery service and Agenda 111.
He described these as “rich ideas” that had already transformed lives, saying they showed his capacity to provide practical solutions to Ghana’s challenges.
Dr. Bawumia reassured the party’s grassroots that he would recognize and reward their sacrifices, promising to restore opportunities many had lost.
He further pledged to build a modern, digital economy that would offer equal opportunities to women, youth and vulnerable groups.
According to him, unity within the NPP was essential if the party was to return to power in 2028.
He urged members to avoid internal attacks and instead concentrate on defeating the National Democratic Congress (NDC), which he accused of deceiving Ghanaians with promises it had failed to deliver.
By: Jacob Aggrey
