The Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Office of the President, Kofi Okyere Darko, has urged African and Caribbean policymakers to move beyond rhetoric and take bold, innovative steps to dismantle trade barriers and drive meaningful economic integration across the two regions.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Africa-Caribbean Business Trade Expo in Accra on Tuesday (April 25, 2025) in Accra, Mr Okyere Darko challenged African leaders and institutions to embrace forward-thinking reforms that will ease the movement of goods, services, and people — particularly for diaspora-led businesses.

“I urge every policymaker here to think innovatively about how we can reduce barriers to trade, ease movement of goods and people, and create enabling environments for diaspora businesses to thrive,” he said to a packed auditorium at the Labadi Beach Hotel.

He continued: “Let us harmonise policy, standardise regulation, and digitise systems. Let us connect our ports, align our chambers of commerce, and synchronise our trade data. Because the time for talking is over. This is the time for action.”

The two-day expo, jointly organised by the Bahamas-Ghana Chamber of Commerce, AfCFTA Policy Network (APN), and AfCFTA Trading Limited, has brought together business leaders, government officials, and investors from Africa and the Caribbean to explore trade opportunities and deepen diaspora economic participation. It is expected to be a key platform for shaping trade diplomacy, unlocking new market access, and strengthening bilateral ties under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.

In his address, Mr Okyere Darko underscored the strategic importance of diaspora businesses in Africa’s future, pointing to the World Bank’s recent report that diaspora remittances to the continent topped $53 billion last year. But beyond financial transfers, he said, the diaspora brings vital networks, knowledge, and innovation that can unlock entire industries if the right policies are put in place.

“The diaspora holds a key to Africa’s future,” he emphasised. “We must not allow bureaucracy or fragmented policies to shut them out. Ghana, as the host of the AfCFTA Secretariat, must lead by example in ensuring our systems are accessible, efficient, and inclusive.”

He noted that while the cultural and emotional reconnection between Africa and its diaspora is vital, it must be matched with practical frameworks that support business growth. “Ghana is proud to serve as a gateway to Africa,” he said. “But this reconnection must be more than symbolic — it must be strategic.”

The Expo aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s broader vision for economic transformation through entrepreneurship and SME support, which was recently reiterated at the Kwahu Business Forum. 

Mr Okyere Darko referenced the President’s call for deliberate policies that promote innovation and access to capital for Ghanaian businesses — sentiments that mirror the Expo’s goals.

He applauded the organisers for creating a platform that centres SMEs, youth-led start-ups, and women entrepreneurs, stressing that these groups are “the real building blocks of a transformative trade ecosystem.”

In closing, Mr Okyere Darko urged African and Caribbean entrepreneurs to seize the opportunity presented by the Expo to collaborate and build cross-border trade networks.

“Let this Expo be your launchpad,” he said. “Connect. Collaborate. Build.”

The Africa-Caribbean Business Trade Expo continues on Wednesday, with sessions focused on export readiness, financial inclusion, logistics, branding, and diaspora investment strategies.