Ghanaians living abroad are pumping money back to their homeland at record levels and the government in Accra wants some of this to be focused as investments into the fledgling hemp value chain.
This comes against a broader backdrop of remittance flows, which the government now wants to transform into long-term investment capital for Ghana’s development. In 2025, remittances from Ghanaians living abroad hit nearly US$7.8 billion in 2025, overtaking Foreign Direct Investment as on the forex charts.
Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr Johnson Pandit Asiama outlined this bold shift at the Maiden Diaspora Roundtable in Alexandria,Virginia, U.S. on 19 April 2026.
“Let me be clear” he said. “The Ghanaian diaspora is a strategic asset.”
“Our next phase is not just about remittances. It is about turning diaspora income into long-term investment capital for Ghana,” Dr Asiama said, adding that the Bank of Ghana is advancing policies to expand formal remittance channels and boost FX market transparency, alongside new initiatives to unlock diaspora investment.
One of the first tangible outcomes of this new step will be to open up Ghana’s industrial cannabis industry to citizens living abroad.
To this end there’s an emotional connection thrown in with the opening day of the Hemptech Conference 2026 scheduled for 19 June, the internationally recognized day commemorating the end of slavery in Texas in the United States.
The investment gathering, with the support of the Diaspora Affairs Office of the President and the Interior Ministry, is designed to trigger interest among Ghanaians living in the United States and abroad who have access to capital.
Calling the African Diaspora
The organizers say the date is significant as the Hemptech conference aims to be a platform for economic empowerment, ownership, and long-term wealth creation for people of African descent worldwide.
Under the theme “Green Energy, Digital Innovation, Value Addition, Farming Infrastructure, Legalities, and Diaspora Engagement for Successful Agribusiness,” the event is “designed to attract serious stakeholders seeking strategic opportunities in one of the fastest-growing sectors in global agriculture”.
The US Department of Agriculture and Foreign Agricultural Service are supporting the initiative, and among the invitees are the US and Dutch Ambassadors. It is understood the US will be offering international hemp education funding and agricultural development grants aimed at the American Diaspora partnerships with Ghana institutions and private sector leaders.
A Strategic Moment for Ghana
The conference comes at a pivotal time as Ghana continues to refine its controversial hemp licensing framework, which has been criticized as one of the most expensive in the world.
Organizers hope that the event will open up a more accessible path for Ghanaian farmers and entrepreneurs who say they’ve been sidelined by the high licensing fees and compliance costs.
The current licensing system is reportedly under judicial review, while Bono East Region farmer Mariam Alhassan is challenging the constitutionality of the regulations in the Supreme Court.
Keynote speaker at the June conference will be attorney Sheryil Murray Powell, internationally recognized cannabis attorney and President of the Ethiopian World Federation, Inc., who was recently appointed by the Crown Council of Ethiopia as a Special Representative to the African Diaspora, reflecting her expanding diplomatic and industry influence.
Other headline speakers include:
– Ras Aswad Nkrabea, former Deputy CEO of Hempire Agric Ghana (HAG) Ltd. and an early leader in Ghana’s industrial hemp policy movement.
– A German-Ethiopian Hemp Concrete Expert, Ms. Hiwot Schulte presenting opportunities in sustainable building materials.
– A Master Grower from the United States, Mr. Marcus Taylor sharing advanced cultivation methods and international production standards for Ghana farmers.
– Kwaku Tutu of Talking Drums, one of Ghana’s respected cultural voices in music and entertainment to discuss how music can shape the cannabis culture in Ghana.
The conference is also about doing business and among the attendees will be representatives in lighting technology, organic fertilizers, and international offtake agreements, offering practical commercial pathways for industry growth.
The event comes against the backdrop of recent efforts by the President of Ghana at the United Nations to advance formal recognition of the legacy of slavery, further strengthening the national conversation around repatriation, Diaspora inclusion, and economic restoration.
The inclusion of the Dutch Embassy follows renewed agricultural cooperation after the recent Netherlands visit by Ghana’s Ministry of Agriculture, reinforcing international interest in strengthening Ghana’s farming sector through innovation and farmer support.
Hemptech 2026 in its Own Words:
A Private Opportunity for Serious Investors:
The 6th Annual HempTech Conference offers attendees direct access to:
– Investment-ready agricultural ventures
– Cross-border trade partnerships
– Hemp processing opportunities
– Policy insight from decision makers
– Premium networking with global stakeholders
Tickets and exhibition tables are now available:
https://take.app/coopexecutives
International guests, investors, and members of the African Diaspora are encouraged to attend this historic gathering in Ghana and secure an early position in one of Africa’s most promising emerging industries.
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