By Nokuthaba Dlamini
During their time in Ghana, the delegation met with various stakeholders, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Honourable Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and the Director of the Diaspora Affairs Office, Akwasi Awua Ababio. They also attended a knowledge and capacity-building session at the Centre for Migration Studies (CMS) at the University of Ghana and visited the Ghana Beyond the Return Secretariat, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), and the remittances company ZeePay.
The visit highlighted Ghana’s innovative approaches to diaspora remittances, the historic Year of Return initiative, and the expansion of the Ghana Card by the National Identification Authority. The delegation was impressed by Ghana’s effective harnessing of its diaspora potential for national development, offering valuable insights that will inform the review and enhancement of Zimbabwe’s National Diaspora Policy.
The visit underscored the importance of South-South cooperation, learning from successful models to foster stronger ties and more robust engagement with the diaspora. Mrs. Sienzeni Mateta, Director for the Diaspora and Bilateral Trade Unit and head of delegation, expressed profound appreciation to the Government of Ghana, IOM Ghana, and IOM Zimbabwe for their coordination and support.
“This initiative exemplifies the Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society Approach, demonstrating the power of collaborative efforts in achieving national development goals,” she said. The visit marked a significant step forward in Zimbabwe’s efforts to engage its diaspora and leverage their contributions for national development.