Washington: The Bank of Ghana is targeting billions of dollars in diaspora remittances for bonds, small businesses, and infrastructure projects, as policymakers move to transform overseas transfers into a long-term source of investment capital, foreign exchange inflows, and broader economic financing.
According to Ghana Web, Central Bank Governor Dr. Johnson Pandit Asiama said at a diaspora roundtable dubbed 'The Central Bank Bridge: Remit2Invest' in Washington that remittances rose to nearly US$7.8 billion by the end of 2025, from about US$4.6 billion in 2024. At roughly 6 percent of the gross domestic product, these inflows now exceed foreign direct investment, underlining their increasing importance to Ghana's external position.
The central bank is exploring diaspora bonds and structured investment vehicles with relevant state agencies while promoting foreign-currency-denominated investment products through supervised financial institutions. Authorities are also reviewing regulatory frameworks for cross-border flows and building more continuous engagement platforms for overseas Ghanaians.
The strategy marks part of a broader effort to diversify Ghana's financing base after its recent debt restructuring, while reducing dependence on more volatile external capital sources. Remittance inflows are generally viewed as more stable during global downturns and domestic stress periods.
Dr. Asiama emphasized the central role of the Ghanaian diaspora in the nation's economy. He stated that the diaspora is central to Ghana's external stability, investment strategy, and economic transformation agenda. The Bank of Ghana is also focusing on digital finance tools to reduce transfer costs and settlement delays, partnering with fintech firms to improve speed, traceability, and efficiency in cross-border remittance and investment flows, under regulatory oversight.
The United States remains Ghana's largest single source of remittance inflows, making the Washington region a strategic location for the first formal roundtable. This area hosts one of the largest Ghanaian diaspora communities, with strong representation in finance, technology, healthcare, and public policy.
The Governor noted that recent macroeconomic adjustments have improved investor confidence. Inflation has moderated, reserves have strengthened, and the cedi has shown resilience following tighter policy settings and liquidity management measures. Recent policy measures have also focused on improving formal remittance capture, enhancing transparency in the foreign exchange market, supporting digital payment systems, and strengthening remittance data reporting.