Ghanaians Abroad Call for Inclusiveness In Policy Making
Ghanaians and Africans in the diaspora have called on the Ghanaian and African governments to create a conducive environment in which their voices would be heard and their opinions factored into policy-making decisions in their respective home countries.
According to them, there was an urgent need for African governments to institute the appropriate channels and quarters that would ensure that the voices of Africans in the diaspora are sought and reflected in the decision-making processes back home.
This, they contended, would ensure transparency in governance while also providing the opportunity for their contributions to national, regional and continental development to be recognised.
This came up at the 2nd edition of the Renaissance of Culture Ghana Concert held in Zurich, Switzerland.
Well attended by participants from a host of African countries, the Renaissance of Culture Ghana – EU/North American Concert programme is an initiative that seeks to promote and market Ghanaian culture and influence in European and American cities.
It also aimed at fostering sister-city relations between the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) of Ghana and authorities of the host cities.
Sharing his remarks at the event, Programmes Coordinator of Showbiz Europe, Kojo Amoh iterated that: “It was about time we connected with Ghanaians and Africans abroad to home, and leverage on culture to create business opportunities and network with the rest of the world’’.
He said organizers, through the event, sought to underscore the importance of the preservation of our African cultural heritage through music and arts as a means of keeping the younger generation close to home.
An initiative like the Renaissance of Culture Ghana Concert, he added, would help provide new avenues for Africans to explore in terms of businesses and partnership, especially as the world struggles to stand on its feet amidst the ravaging effects of the covid-19 pandemic, inflation and rising cost of living.
The event was held in partnership with the Office of the President-Diaspora; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration; the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture among other organizations.
The event brought together some legends in the Ghanaian music space including the likes of Amakye Dede, Adane Best, and Kofi Kanata with each artist hay about an hour and a half to entertain the audience.