Sammy Gyamfi, Esq., the chief executive officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), has urged Africans living abroad to go beyond remittances and take an active role in the economic transformation of the continent by directing their resources toward companies, skill development, and strategic alliances that create long-lasting institutions.
In his keynote speech at the EMY Africa – Africa Rising Symposium in London on Thursday, July 30, Mr. Gyamfi made the case that Africans must own the businesses, organizations, and wealth propelling the continent's growth for Africa's rising to have any real significance.
Speaking on the topic of "The Growing Relationship Between Africa and Its Global Diaspora, and Why This Moment Matters," he said that the diaspora is one of Africa's most important strategic assets because it has the resources, know-how, technology, networks, and experience required to hasten the continent's transformation.
Mr. Gyamfi pointed out that the continent is home to an estimated 532 million young people between the ages of 15 and 35, citing the Mastercard Foundation's Africa Youth Employment Outlook 2026. He cautioned that this demographic advantage might turn into a catastrophe in the absence of sufficient employment, investment, and economic opportunity.
"The African youth does not need pity. The African youth needs access — access to skills, financing, markets, technology, mentorship and institutions that reward effort," he said.
"Do not just send money home; send systems home," he said, acknowledging the billions of dollars that African families and economies receive each year through remittances. However, he maintained that investments that generate jobs, develop businesses, and fortify institutions are essential to the continent's long-term growth. "Build businesses instead of just homes," he advised Africans living abroad.
Mr. Gyamfi emphasized that Africa has to maintain more control over its natural resources, contending that the continent must make a crucial decision: either continue to be a source of cheap labor and raw materials, or develop into a continent of producers, innovators, financiers, and owners.
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He urged members of the diaspora to make direct investments in value-added sectors, manufacturing, commercial agriculture, agribusiness, logistics, information technology, renewable energy, healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
Speaking on Ghana, Mr. Gyamfi stated that the government of President John Mahama is working on reforms to guarantee that Africans continue to own key industries while drawing in foreign investment that boosts domestic capability. He used GoldBod as an example, formalizing the gold trade, combating smuggling, enhancing transparency, and expanding prospects for ethical investing.
Additionally, he declared that GoldBod will shortly launch tokenized financial assets backed by gold, which he claimed will enable more Africans to directly invest in the mineral richness of the continent.
He ended his speech with a message:
Mr. Gyamfi called on African governments to support diaspora investment by guaranteeing policy consistency, protecting contractual obligations and strengthening transparent institutions. He closed by urging Africans worldwide to move beyond speeches and remittances toward long-term investment, insisting Africa's future must be built and owned by Africans themselves.