Speech by Governor Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama at the Maiden Diaspora Roundtable Programme
Source: bank_of_ghana
Date: 2026-04-20

MAIDEN DIASPORA ROUNDTABLE – DMV AREA Opening Remarks by Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama, Governor, Bank of Ghana 19 April 2026 Her Excellency, the Deputy Ambassador to the United States, Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Our Executives and banking partners participating virtually from Ghana, Esteemed members of the Ghanaian diaspora, Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, It is my distinct honour and privilege to convene this maiden Diaspora Remittance Roundtable here in the DMV – spanning Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia – a region that represents not only the administrative heart of the United States, but also a vibrant hub of global policy, finance, innovation, and diaspora excellence. I bring you warm greetings from Ghana and from the Bank of Ghana as we begin this structured, intentional, and results -oriented engagement with one of Ghana’s most valuable national assets – the diaspora. The choice of the DMV area is deliberate and strategic. This region hosts one of the largest and most economically vibrant Ghanaian diaspora communities. Beyond this, the diaspora community here, and in the United States in general, have built a reputation for excellence, discipline, and enterprise. You are entrepreneurs, financiers, technologists, healthcare professionals and policy influencers. You are not merely participants in the global economy, you are shapers of it. The concentration of hig hly skilled professionals and entrepreneurs makes the DMV area a natural starting point for a sustained and institutionalised diaspora engagement. The United States remains Ghana’s single largest source of remittance inflows. This underscores the importance of engaging diaspora communities in this jurisdiction, particularly given that remittances are among the most stable and counter -cyclical sources of external financing, providing resilience during periods of global economic uncertainty. Let me be clear: the Ghanaian diaspora is a strategic asset. It represents: • A critical source of foreign exchange inflows, • A powerful channel for technology transfer and innovation, and • An important bridge to global capital markets. However, unlocking this full potential requires a deliberate transition – from consumption-driven remittances to investment -oriented diaspora capital flows. Equally important is the intentional inclusion of second-generation Ghanaians, whose engagement wil l depend on modern, digital, and identity -linked approaches that reflect evolving preferences and investment behaviours. This gathering reflects our shared commitment to strengthening the relationship between Ghana and its diaspora, recognising that diaspora capital, remittances, and expertise are integral to Ghana’s macroeconomic stability and long -term growth trajectory. Over the past year, our macroeconomic framework has been recalibrated to ensure stability, predictability, and investor confidence. Inflation dynamics have improved significantly, the external sector remains resilient, and our financial system continues to demonstrate soundness and adaptability. Gross international reserves have strengthened, improving import cover, while the cedi has shown considerable resilience, supported by appropriate policy tightening and effective liquidity management. My objective this evening is to set out, with clarity, the role of the Bank of Ghana and to engage you on how we can transform remittance flows into formal foreign exchange and channel them into investable capital through the financial system. Remittance inflows remain a cornerstone of Ghana’s external sector. In 2024, Ghana recorded approximately US$4.6 billion in remittances. These flows continued to rise through 2025, reaching nearly US$7.8 billion by year -end. At roughly six per cent of GDP, remittances now exceed foreign direct investment, underscoring their systemic importance. Remittance products in Ghana are quite diverse and have evolved rapidly - driven through effective collaboration with banks, mobile money operators, fintech innovation, and strong diaspora inflows. These include bank -based Remittance products, Mobile Mone y Remittance products, Fintech / Digital Remittance Apps, Cross-Border Payment Platforms & Aggregators, Cash Pickup & Agent Network Products, etc. Accordingly, recent policy actions have focused on enhancing formal remittance capture, strengthening transparency in the foreign exchange market, supporting digital cross -border payment systems, and improving the integrity, quality, and reporting of remittance data. The Bank of Ghana is aligning its approach with international best practice. We are exploring diaspora bonds and structured investment vehicles in collaboration with the designated MDAS , promoting foreign -currency-denominated investment products through supervised industry players , strengthening regulatory frameworks for cross - border flows, and establishing more structured and continuous diaspora engagement platforms. In addition, we are leveraging fintech partnerships to reduce remittance costs and settlement frictions, including the responsible use of digital ledger and tokenisation- based models to improve speed, traceability, and efficiency in cross-border remittance and investment flows – within a sound regulatory and supervisory framework. We are working to ensure that when a Ghanaian in Washington or elsewhere decides to invest in Ghana – whether in government securities, SMEs, fintech, real estate, or infrastructure the pathway is seamless, credible, and rewarding. These initiatives are informed by proven global best practices from emerging market peers. Countries such as the Philippines, Mexico, and Kenya have successfully implemented structured diaspora engagement frameworks – combining targeted investment instruments, digital remittance platforms, and sustained policy dialogue – to mobilise remittances into long -term investment and development financing. Mexico shows how to scale diaspora funds, the Philippines shows how to change financial behaviour, and India shows how to mobilise large capital from remittances. Ghana intends to adapt and scale these lessons in a manner consistent with our domestic financial architecture. This Roundtable is therefore designed to explore bankable diaspora investment opportunities; co -create innovative diaspora financial solutions; support a strategic shift from consumption -driven remittances to investment -led models; and provide clarity on regulatory constraints affecting diaspora flows. We expect tangible outcomes, including greater formalisation of remittance flows, increased diaspora participation in Ghana’s financial markets, enhanced partnerships between diaspora, financial institutions, and policymakers, and actionable policy and regulatory recommendations. In the period ahead, the Bank of Ghana will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to convert diaspora inflows into long -term development capital; encourage the development of targeted financial instruments for diaspora investors; strengthen digital payment ecosystems for seamless diaspora onboarding; institutionalise regular diaspora engagement mechanisms; and enhance data systems to better track and leverage remittance flows. Let me conclude by emphasising that the Ghanaian diaspora is not peripheral to our economy – it is central to our external stability, our investment strategy, and our economic transformation agenda. If harnessed well, our Diaspora can become a reliable source of long -term capital, even during crises , and we must treat the diaspora as domestic investors abroad, not external senders. Our next phase is not just about remittances; it is about turning diaspora income into long-term investment capital for Ghana. Through this maiden Roundtable, our collective task is clear: to transform remittances into investment, and engagement into enduring economic partnerships. The Bank of Ghana stands ready to work with you all to achieve this objective. Thank you for your attention.