Ambassador Smith gets a taste of real Ghanaian welcome in Los Angeles as he Prioritises Diaspora Engagements

A major highlight of Ambassador Victor Emmanuel Smith's visit to California, were the meeting with the diaspora in Sacramento and a Town Hall Meeting in Los Angeles on Saturday 21st February themed: “Empowering the Next Generation of Diaspora Investors and Streamlining Consular Services.” The meeting was organized by the Ghana Association of Southern California under the leadership of Mr. Martey Odonkor. The Ambassador was welcomed with excitement amid drumming and dancing by the Ghanaian LA Philanthropic Jama Orchestra and a special rendition of the Ghana National Anthem. Ambassador Smith, emphasizing the transformative potential of diaspora capital stated “Diaspora capital is not only financial. It is intellectual, technological, and network-driven.” Some of the concerns raised centered on the need to create a Consular Office in Los Angeles, thereby ending years of Diaspora on the West Coast hours of travel to Washington for biometrics in order to register for new passports. The session also addressed improvements in consular service delivery enabling easy business engagements between Ghana and the USA. The Embassy gave a firm assurance that community outreaches in various states would commence soonest to address some of the pressing concerns raised. This engagement forms part of the Embassy’s community outreaches to Ghanaians living in the US with the good news of emerging opportunities in Ghana as a result of open, transparent and good governance.