GoldBod CEO Calls Diaspora for Long‑Term Investment
At the EMY Africa – Africa Rising Symposium in London, Sammy Gyamfi, chief executive of the Ghana Gold Board, called on the African diaspora to shift from sending remittances to making long‑term investments in the continent’s businesses, infrastructure and industry.
From Family Support to Strategic Partnership
Investors watch eagerly.
Gyamfi said the current flow of money from Africans abroad largely sustains households, but it does not generate the engines that can drive sustainable growth. “This moment demands more than remittances. It demands investment,” he told the audience. “Remittances are lifelines, but investment builds self‑sustaining engines.”
He warned that Africa’s rise will be incomplete if the continent continues to export raw materials while most value creation occurs elsewhere. “Africa’s rise must mean African resources creating African industries, African jobs, African brands, African wealth, African reserves and African dignity,” he added.
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The CEO described the diaspora as an underused strategic asset, noting that beyond capital, expatriates bring technical expertise, global business networks and governance experience that could accelerate development. He singled out sectors such as manufacturing, agribusiness, logistics, information technology, renewable energy, healthcare, education and value‑added processing as priority areas for investment.
GoldBod’s Role and New Investment Vehicles
Gyamfi explained that the Ghana Gold Board was created to formalise the gold supply chain, boost transparency and curb smuggling. The agency plans to launch gold‑backed tokenised assets, allowing Africans to hold a direct stake in mineral wealth. This move aligns with Ghana’s broader strategy to increase domestic ownership of strategic sectors.
He also highlighted the continent’s demographic challenge. Citing the Mastercard Foundation Africa Youth Employment Outlook 2026, he noted that about 532 million people in Africa are aged 15‑35. “The African youth does not need pity,” Gyamfi said. “The African youth needs access—to skills, financing, credit, markets, technology, mentorship and institutions that reward effort.”
Governments, he argued, must improve policy certainty, protect investors, enforce contracts and increase institutional transparency to attract both diaspora and foreign capital.
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While the focus remains on financial flows, Gyamfi’s remarks reflect a broader shift in how African economies view diaspora contributions. The idea is that a modest but steady stream of investment, combined with mentorship and technology transfer, could lift entire sectors rather than just support individual households.
From a broader perspective, the push for diaspora investment aligns with trends seen in other emerging markets where expatriate communities have become important in funding infrastructure and tech startups. If African nations can replicate these models, they may reduce reliance on aid and create more resilient economies.
Gyamfi’s call comes as several African governments intensify efforts to court diaspora capital, seeing it as a source of long‑term foreign exchange and a catalyst for domestic growth. The Gold Board’s tokenised product could be a tangible way for individuals abroad to participate in the continent’s resource base without the complexities of physical commodity markets.
