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NuGhana Expat Center and ACCP organise Diaspora Dialogue Session to address growing diaspora concerns in Ghana
The NuGhana Expat Center, in collaboration with the African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP), has organised a landmark Diaspora Safety and Justice Dialogue to address rising concerns among diasporans, returnees, and foreign nationals living in Ghana.
The dialogue, held at Nteasee House (also known as the Diaspora House) in East Legon, Accra, followed an official letter from NuGhana Expat Center to the ACCP expressing deep concerns over growing diaspora agitations.
In the letter dated May 11, 2026, NuGhana detailed numerous complaints from Black diasporans who have suffered land scams, business fraud, extortion, and weak follow-up from authorities.
The letter warned that if left unaddressed, these negative experiences could generate damaging narratives about Ghana and the continent at large.
According to sources within the Chamber, the letter triggered an emergency meeting of the ACCP’s Executive Council, which resolved to engage directly with affected diasporans as part of a fact-finding mission.
The Council noted that the situation, if not urgently addressed, could directly undermine the Chamber’s core mandate to project a positive image of the African continent, shape constructive narratives about Africa, and safeguard the reputation of Ghana and its diaspora engagement initiatives.
The ACCP delegation at the dialogue was led by veteran media executive Harold Roger Quartey, veteran actor Fred Nii Amugi, educationist Rachael Annoh (PhD), research expert David Adofo, ARTIOS award winner Mawuko Kuadzi, and ACCP Executive Director, Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin.
Also present was Chief Superintendent Amoako Boansi (rtd), a retired police commissioner, along with representatives from traditional councils, officials from security agencies, and media representatives.
The event attracted both physical participants at the venue and several virtual participants who joined from across the world, underscoring the global reach of the concerns being raised.
Executives of the International Expat Center led by their Executive Director Nana Kofi Opoku Agyemang opened the dialogue session with several petitions received from Diasporans in Ghana and other parts of Africa.
The dialogue, described by attendees as “cathartic yet urgent,” saw diasporans pour out their hearts over years of accumulated frustration. Many recounted deep emotional turmoil, scams, fraud, allegations of false arrests, romance scams, and a sense of abandonment when seeking justice.
Virtual participants from various continents indicated that the problem is not unique to Ghana, reporting similar challenges in other African countries where they reside or have attempted to invest.
One diasporan, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “I came home with dreams and savings. Today, I am afraid to step out because of who might deceive me next.”
The ACCP delegation, visibly moved by the testimonies, pledged concrete action. Veteran actor Fred Nii Amugi assured the gathering that the Chamber would organise a larger townhall meeting to give diaspora concerns a broader platform.
He added that the Chamber would ensure that the relevant state agencies, and if possible, the President of Ghana, are invited to participate in pathway development for lasting solutions.
“We have heard you, and we will not look away,” Mr. Amugi said. “Your safety and dignity are inseparable from Ghana’s honour.”
Chairman of ACCP’s Cultural and Media Sector, Mr. Harold Roger Quartey pledged to engage further with NuGhana Expat Center as the Chamber deliberates on deeper, lasting solutions to the concerns of the diaspora community.
Chief Superintendent Amoako Boansi (rtd), after listening to the several frustrations aired by diasporans, promised to take action. He indicated that he would collect some of the video testimonies of the diasporans and present them personally to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) for possible advice and further action on the situation.
He also remarked that the situation requires multiple stakeholder engagements, particularly with the security services and the media working together.
He expressed happiness at seeing veteran media personality Mr. Roger Quartey and veteran actor Fred Nii Amugi as part of the ACCP delegation, noting that such collaboration between security and media professionals is essential to addressing the complex challenges facing diasporans.
Among the key solutions proposed during the dialogue was the establishment of a diaspora protection taskforce to look into diaspora concerns.
According to NuGhana, a formal proposal has already been sent to the President of Ghana and various agencies, including the Bureau of National Intelligence, Ministry of Interior, Office of National Security, and the Ghana Immigration Service.
Participants also called for proper and regular education on diaspora integration, a task the Chamber has assigned to its educational arm, the African Progressive Research and Innovations (APRIL), to develop.
Additionally, a dedicated platform for diaspora engagement and networking is being developed by NuGhana International Expat Center with partners, including the forthcoming AfroTango Platform.
A proposed Diasporan-African educational film was also discussed, with Roger Quartey and Mawuko Kuadzi tasked to lead the initiative through the Africa Monologue Challengeinitiative.
Speaking after the dialogue, Nana Kofi Opoku-Agyemang, Executive Director of NuGhana Expat Center, expressed satisfaction that diasporans were finally able to pour out their hearts in a safe, structured environment.
“I am deeply grateful to the diasporans who trusted us with their stories, and to the ACCP leadership for listening with open minds,” he said. “I am very hopeful that the ACCP team and partners will work around the clock to help bring some relief to this situation.”
Nana Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin, Executive Director of the African Chamber of Content Producers, reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to safeguarding the image of the continent.
“The Chamber is committed to protecting the image of the continent and will work with all relevant agencies and members to restore hope to diasporans who have grown frustrated through their encounters with a few bad nuts within society,” he stated.
He confirmed that a special committee has been established to organise the larger townhall engagement, adding that details would be released in the coming days.
By: Jacob Aggrey
A woman who is accused of bolting with ‘susu’ money totaling GH₵156,445 has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.
Martha Nana Esi Afful was alleged to have collected the money from 35 complainants.
Charged with 35 counts of fraudulent breach of trust, Martha, who was earlier remanded, pleaded not guilty.
The court, presided over by Mr Joseph Y. Kuunsong on Wednesday, admitted the accused person to a GH₵200,000 bail with two sureties.
One of the sureties, the court said, must be a public servant earning not less than GH₵5,000.
She is expected to reappear on August 12, 2026.
The Prosecution’s case before the court is that the complainants are traders and residents at La in Accra.
Prosecution described Martha as a ‘Susu’ collector, who resided at Burma Camp.
The court heard that the accused person run a business with the name ‘ZOE’ and she deceived the 35 complainants into believing that she collected ‘Susu’ daily, which was kept for a period of one-three years, and paid interest on the money invested.
The complainants contributed in 2023 for a three-year period, prosecution said.
In December 2025, when the complainants went to take their money with interest, Martha went into hiding and only took phone calls from a few complainants.
Prosecution said the accused provided a MTN Momo number through which a few of the complainants still paid monies.
It said all efforts made to collect the money, totaling GH₵156,445 from her, proved futile.
On June 14, 2026, a report was made to the police and Martha was picked up at a washing bay at Tse Addo.
During interrogation, she admitted the offence in her caution statement, saying she lost her husband and relocated to Swedru in the Central Region, hence the complainants were unable to reach her from December 2025 till date.
Prosecution said Martha further stated that she had invested the monies into refuse collection business and she needed time to pay the amount.
Police are investigating the claims. –GNA
A Public Health Nurse at the Roman Ridge Sub-Municipal of the Ayawaso West Health Directorate, Ms Patience Adoli Kporxah, has cautioned the public against coming into contact with floodwaters, warning that exposure can lead to serious diseases, infections and injuries.
Floodwater, she said, should always be treated as contaminated, regardless of how clean it appears, because it may contain sewage, human and animal waste, chemicals, fuel, sharp objects and disease-causing micro-organisms.
In an interview with The Spectator in Accra on Thursday, Ms Kporxah explained that contact with contaminated floodwater exposes people to bacteria, viruses, parasites, hazardous chemicals and other physical hazards that can result in illness or injury.
Her advice came in the wake of recent exposure to floodwater following Monday’s torrential rains that left vast areas of the capital flooded.
As a result, a lot of people were seen either ‘swimming’ in the floodwater to rescue people or retrieving items being washed away.
According to her, exposure to floodwater could cause skin infections, particularly where there are cuts or open wounds, as well as diarrhoea diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery and other forms of gastroenteritis if contaminated water was swallowed.
Other health risks, she said include hepatitis A, eye and ear infections, tetanus in people with untreated wounds or incomplete vaccination, and injuries from submerged sharp objects, debris or electrical hazards.
Ms Kporxah advised anyone who had contact with floodwater to monitor their health closely and seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, severe headache, muscle aches, skin rash, difficulty breathing, or yellowing of the eyes or skin.
She also urged people whose wounds became red, swollen, painful or begin to discharge pus, as well as those who accidentally swallow floodwater, to report to the nearest health facility without delay.
Although not everyone exposed to floodwater requires immediate treatment, she stressed that pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, individuals living with chronic illnesses and those with significant wounds should seek prompt medical evaluation.
On water safety, Ms Kporxah cautioned that rainwater was not automatically safe for drinking or cooking, especially during or after flooding. She explained that rainwater collected from roofs, gutters or open containers could be contaminated by bird and animal droppings, dust, leaves, bacteria, viruses, parasites and chemical pollutants.
She advised that rainwater intended for drinking should first be treated by boiling, chlorination or another approved water purification method before use.
Touching on food safety, Ms Kporxah said factory-sealed bottled drinks and canned foods with intact packaging might still be safe after flooding.
However, she stressed that any containers submerged in floodwater should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before handling. Foods in paper packaging, damaged containers or products with broken seals should be discarded because contaminated water may have seeped into them.
She further warned that flooding increases the risk of outbreaks of cholera, typhoid fever and other waterborne diseases through contaminated water sources.
In addition, she said flooding could contribute to respiratory illnesses in overcrowded shelters and mould-infested buildings, foodborne illnesses from spoiled or contaminated food, and mental health conditions such as anxiety, stress, depression and trauma.
It could also disrupt access to medicines and healthcare for people living with chronic conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, asthma and kidney disease.
Ms Kporxah therefore urged the public to practice good hygiene, avoid unnecessary contact with floodwater, consume only safe food and drinking water, and seek medical attention promptly whenever symptoms develop.
She said observing these preventive measures would help minimise the risk of disease outbreaks and protect lives as the country continues to experience heavy rains and flooding in some communities.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
