A new initiative aimed at mobilizing the intellectual, professional, entrepreneurial, financial and cultural resources of Ghanaians abroad for national development has been launched at Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C., under the theme “Harnessing the Power of the Diaspora to Transform Ghana’s Future.” Dubbed “Region 17,” whichseeks to give institutional expression to the vision of recognizing the Ghanaian diaspora as an integral part of Ghana’s development story and creating a structured platform through which Ghanaians abroad can contribute to the country’s economic transformation.

The launch brought together members of the Ghanaian diaspora, business leaders, professionals, policymakers and other stakeholders. Delivering a keynote address, Ambassador Smith congratulated the founding members and Board of Directors of Region 17 for bringing the initiative to fruition. “Tonight is not merely a launch of an institution. It is the birth of an idea whose time has come.” The Ambassador traced the concept to President John Dramani Mahama’s description of the Ghanaian diaspora as Ghana’s “17th region” during the Diaspora Summit in Accra and repeating same when he, the President, visited the United States.

According to Ambassador Smith, Region 17 transforms that idea into an institutional platform capable of mobilising the extensive resources of the Ghanaian diaspora. He emphasised that the strength of a nation is not determined only by its natural resources but also by its ability to harness the talents of its people wherever they may be. Ambassador Smith said Diplomacy must become an engine for national development. He emphasised that the establishment of Region 17 closely aligns with his own vision since assuming office as Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States.

For Ambassador Smith, the role of Ghana’s diplomatic missions must extend beyond traditional political representation. A major theme in the Ambassador’s address was the need to broaden the national understanding of the contribution of Ghanaians abroad. He argued that the Ghanaian diaspora should not be viewed primarily through the lens of remittances. “The Ghanaian diaspora is not outside Ghana's development story. They are central to it.” He pointed to the enormous global African diaspora, noting that people of African descent living outside the continent possess significant economic resources and occupy influential positions across various sectors. These include leadership in companies, hospitals, universities, technology, global finance and international policy.

While acknowledging the importance of remittances, Ambassador Smith stressed that Ghana risked overlooking far more valuable resources if it focused solely on money sent home. He identified those resources as “Knowledge. Innovation. Networks. Technology. Entrepreneurship. Global influence. And leadership.” He, therefore, described Region 17 as a significant shift in the way Ghana conceptualises its diaspora.