Sammy Gyamfi To Global Diaspora: “Don’t Just Send Money Home, Send Systems Home
GoldBod CEO says Africa’s rise must be owned by Africans, not just celebrated
Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, Esq., has charged the African diaspora to move “beyond remittances into investment” as the continent seeks to own its economic transformation.
He made the call at the EMY Africa — Africa Rising Symposium in London on Thursday, speaking on the theme:
“The growing relationship between Africa and its Global Diaspora, and why this moment matters.”
“Who Will Own Africa’s Rise?”
Mr. Gyamfi said Africa’s rise can no longer be treated as a slogan or conference theme.
“The defining question is this: who will own Africa’s rise? Will Africa rise as a supplier of raw materials, cheap labour, and consumer markets for others? Or will Africa rise as a continent of producers, innovators, owners, financiers, and builders?” he asked.
He described the Global African Diaspora as “one of Africa’s most powerful and strategic assets” — a reservoir of expertise, skills, technology, capital, networks and credibility that Africa must harness.
From Remittances To Investment
While acknowledging the critical role of remittances in educating families, paying medical bills and sustaining communities, Mr. Gyamfi said the moment demands more.
“Remittances are lifelines but investment builds self-sustaining engines. Remittances help households survive but investment helps economies transform,” he stated.
“My appeal to the global African diaspora therefore is this: do not only send money home; send systems home. Do not only build houses; build enterprises. Do not only sponsor ceremonies; sponsor apprenticeships and entrepreneurship.”
He urged diaspora capital into manufacturing, agribusiness, logistics, IT, green energy, healthcare, value addition, creative industries and infrastructure.
GoldBod As A Model For Value Retention
Drawing from Ghana’s experience, the GoldBod CEO said Africa must retain more value from its resources.
“Africa is rich in minerals, yet too often poor in the value created from them. We export what nature gave us and import what human ingenuity made of it,” he said.
He explained that GoldBod is helping formalize the gold trade, curb smuggling, strengthen foreign exchange generation and create opportunities for value addition.
“Just in case you are yet to hear, we will soon be rolling out our gold-backed tokenisation investment assets which will open the way for more Africans to own the mineral wealth of Africa,” he announced.
Four-Point Charge To The Diaspora
Mr. Gyamfi outlined 4 key actions for the diaspora:
1. Finance African enterprises that produce, process, export, employ and scale up
2. Engage based on mutual respect, bankable ideas, shared risk and shared reward
3. Invest in productive sectors and build mentorship platforms and diaspora investment vehicles
4. Help Africa keep more value from what it produces through value addition and value retention
He added that African governments must also create the right conditions through policy stability, contract sanctity and strong institutions.
“Africa’s Youth Need Opportunity, Not Charity”
Referencing data that Africa has about *532 million young people aged 15-35, Mr. Gyamfi warned that without jobs and capital, the demographic dividend could become a crisis.
“The African youth does not need pity. The African youth needs access; access to skills, financing, credit, markets, technology, mentorship, and institutions that reward effort. The diaspora can help unlock all of these,” he said.
He concluded: “Africa’s resources are waiting for African ownership, not discovery. We are done with predicting Africa’s future. The time to build that future is now. Africa is rising. Let Africans rise with her.”
The EMY Africa Africa Rising Symposium brought together industry leaders, policymakers and members of the diaspora to discuss Africa’s growth and global partnerships.
