The Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Hon. Yussif Issaka Jajah, has welcomed plans by U.S.-based entrepreneur and diaspora representative, Dr. Makeda Smith, to host her organisation’s eighth annual investment conference in Ghana.
Hon. Jajah received Dr. Smith and her delegation on behalf of the Sector Minister, Hon. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, and expressed the Ministry’s interest in supporting the conference, scheduled for September 3 to 5, 2026, which is expected to bring together diaspora business owners, investors and local stakeholders to explore investment opportunities and strengthen diaspora engagement with Ghana.
He urged the organisers to engage the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) to discuss the programme and identify areas of collaboration and support. He said the Ministry’s participation, including possible involvement in the opening ceremony could be considered subject to the necessary arrangements and availability.
Hon. Jajah commended the organisers for their sustained efforts to attract members of the diaspora to Ghana, noting that their repeated visits and ability to encourage others to visit demonstrated growing interest in Ghana as a tourism and investment destination.
Dr. Smith, whose company is based in Chicago, Illinois, said she first brought a delegation to Ghana in December 2023 and had since returned about ten times. She said her organisation had organised three retreats in Ghana, generating multiple six figures in expenditure for the Ghanaian economy.
She also disclosed that the organisation had supported 22 diaspora and local investors to invest in a real estate project at East Lagoon Hills through a partnership with a developer.
The upcoming conference, which will be the organisation’s eighth anniversary celebration and first edition to be hosted in Ghana, will feature an African-themed gala at the Pelican Hotel, where selected investors and local leaders will be recognised for their contributions to investment in Ghana and Africa.
The main conference will be held at the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre and will feature more than 24 speakers, exhibitions by local businesses and over 50 participants from the United States, alongside local and international stakeholders.
Participants will also undertake a real estate tour to explore investment opportunities beyond Accra, including coastal areas. Tourism activities will include visits to Cape Coast and a Black Star City Tour.
Dr.. Smith said her organisation had received endorsements from the Office of the President’s Diaspora Affairs, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and other relevant institutions. She appealed to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts to endorse and support the conference.
Hon. Jajah encouraged the organisers to use their engagement with the GTA to further explore collaboration and strengthen efforts to position Ghana as an attractive destination for tourism, investment and diaspora engagement.
Source: PR UNIT -MoTCCA
Leave a Reply