Open D.O.O.R. Dialogues – Inaugural National Dialogue

Programme for the day

Come Home. Stay Home. Build Home.

Friday, 30 October 2026 · 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Cedi Conference Centre, University of Ghana, Legon · All times are Ghana time (GMT).

Working programme · Updated 15 October 2026. Session times and speaking allocations are provisional. Confirmed contributions, institutional participation and invitations awaiting acceptance are identified below. Additional names will be published as roles are confirmed.

1. 08:00–09:10

   Arrival, registration, exhibitions and networking

   Welcome, registration and opportunities to meet institutional partners, exhibitors and employers.

2. 09:10–09:20

   Opening, protocol and National Anthem

   Dr Sarah Dorgbadzi is confirmed in the participation roster; final MC duties and the co-MC will be announced.

3. 09:20–09:30

   Cultural invocation and opening performance

   Performers and technical arrangements to be confirmed.

4. 09:30–09:40

   Welcome address

   Prof Joseph Awetori Yaro — confirmed participant; final slot reconfirmation pending.

5. 09:40–09:47

   University message

   Prof Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ghana — recorded message received.

6. 09:47–10:00

   Framing the Open D.O.O.R. Dialogues

   Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé Kambon — programme lead.

   Connecting repatriation, local opportunity and institution-building through “Come Home. Stay Home. Build Home.”

7. 10:00–10:20

   Caribbean bridge and guest introduction

   Mr Kwasi Kyei Darkwah (KKD) — confirmed participant; final timing and protocol reconfirmation pending.

8. 10:20–10:35

   Reparatory Justice and Ghana’s Responsibility in an Era of Repatriation

   Ambassador Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah — accepted address, representing the President.

   The President will not attend in person.

9. 10:35–10:42

   Tourism policy address

   Hon Abla Dzifa Gomashie — invited; participation pending confirmation.

10. 10:42–10:50

    Foreign affairs policy address

    Hon Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa — invited; participation pending confirmation. Any designated senior representative will be named once confirmed.

11. 10:50–11:15

    Programme segment to be announced

    This window is being finalised. A student debate, “Should Students Stay or Jakpa?”, is planned; its final placement and format will be announced.

12. 11:15–11:30

    Group photograph

    Confirmed attending dignitaries, university leadership and invited guests.

13. 11:30–12:15

    Policy Plenary One: Diaspora diplomacy and pathways home — entry, citizenship, consular support and belonging

    How Ghana’s foreign policy, diplomatic missions and diaspora engagement can support informed return, strengthen Pan-African ties and connect diaspora skills, networks and investment to national development. Alongside practical entry, residence, citizenship and integration pathways, the plenary examines pre-return engagement through Ghana’s embassies and high commissions, consular assistance and travel documentation, and coordination between Foreign Affairs, Interior, Immigration and Presidency Diaspora Affairs.

    Discussion focus

    • Diplomatic pathways home: how Ghana’s missions can engage diaspora communities, provide pre-return information and connect prospective returnees with the responsible institutions.
    • Consular support and documentation: passports, travel documents and consular assistance within the relevant eligibility rules and institutional mandates.
    • Diaspora partnerships for development: Pan-African cooperation, international partnerships and channels connecting diaspora expertise, networks and investment with opportunities in Ghana.
    • Clear institutional handoffs: who handles entry and residence, citizenship questions, diaspora engagement and integration, and how participants obtain reliable referrals.

    Participants and proposed institutional contributions

    • Ghana Immigration Service: Chief Superintendent Dr Frank Ayisi — accepted institutional nominee; final plenary speaking role awaiting reconfirmation.
    • Presidency Diaspora Affairs: Nana Kyere Agyemang, Deputy Director — attendance accepted; plenary speaking role pending.
    • Ministry of the Interior: invited citizenship/status respondent; named participant and acceptance pending.
    • Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Mrs. Eunice Baidoo-Amponsah — confirmed panel representative of the Diaspora Affairs Bureau, contributing on diaspora diplomacy, engagement through Ghana’s missions, consular services and international partnerships for development. Her official designation and biography are being finalised for the programme.
    • Nana Yaw Mireku Yeboah: invited discussant; acceptance pending.

    Moderator and additional repatriate/local perspectives to be confirmed. Separate Comptroller-General attendance remains unconfirmed.

14. 12:15–12:30

    Questions and answers

    Audience questions and practical clarifications with the plenary participants.

15. 12:30–13:25

    Lunch, exhibitions, recruitment and opportunity fair

    Institutional information, business displays, employer engagement, networking and media conversations. Exhibitor staffing and specific opportunity offers are being finalised.

16. 13:25–14:10

    Policy Plenary Two: Tourism, heritage and the creative economy

    Turning cultural connection and heritage into sustained engagement, collaboration and livelihoods.

    • Dr Lwanga Songsore: discussant role accepted.
    • Ghana Tourism Development Company: plenary and exhibition participation accepted; Prof Kobby Mensah or a nominated colleague — exact speaker pending.
    • Ghana Tourism Authority: named participant and role acceptance pending.
    • Black Star Experience: named participant and role acceptance pending.
    • PANAFEST: individual participants and role acceptances pending.
    • GHATOF: contact-route verification and named participant pending.
    • Kwaku Darko Ankrah: invited discussant; acceptance pending.

    Moderator, final roster and speaking allocations to be confirmed.

17. 14:10–14:55

    Policy Plenary Three: Land, housing, property and safe settlement

    Due diligence, affordability, renting, homeownership and reliable institutional referral routes.

    • Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources: named respondent pending.
    • Lands Commission: named respondent pending.
    • Real Estate Agency Council: named respondent pending.
    • Ghana Institution of Surveyors: named respondent pending.
    • National Homeownership Fund: named respondent pending.
    • Department of Community Development (DCD): Mr Samuel Blebu — confirmed plenary respondent; Deputy Director and Head of the Skills Development and Livelihoods Unit, and Coordinator of the Diaspora Community Partnership Programme. DCD participation and his nomination were confirmed by Director Mr Stephen Blay on 14 October. Ms Iris Odametey is the institutional liaison.
    • Rent Control Department: invited for this plenary; named respondent pending.

    DCD’s named respondent is confirmed. The other institutional roles listed as pending await explicit acceptance. Moderator, local/returning-resident voices and final speaking allocations remain to be confirmed.

18. 14:55–15:40

    CEO / Director Roundtable: Investment, employment and enterprise

    Practical investment, enterprise and employment pathways, with opportunities for students, Ghana-based professionals and returning entrepreneurs.

    • Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA): institutional participation accepted; the Authority will nominate its specific roundtable representative after reviewing the programme. Named speaker and role acceptance pending.
    • SIC Insurance PLC: invited; named roundtable speaker pending.
    • Other employer, investment, export and finance partners: selection and named participation pending.

    Moderator and final roster to be confirmed. Coordination and exhibition contacts are not automatically the roundtable speakers.

19. 15:40–16:10

    Lived experience and student opportunities

    Come Home, Stay Home and Build Home perspectives from repatriates, students, diaspora media, employers and enterprise voices.

    Proposed participants, awaiting confirmation: Ivy Prosper; Kofi Hayford; Dre Taylor; Calvin Daniels; Elizabeth Olympio-Emanuel; and Solomon Agyemang Prempeh, invited for a proposed study/work contribution. Additional student, repatriate and employer nominees are being sought.

    The larger proposed lineup remains open while replies are received. Moderator, final roster and individual speaking times will be confirmed.

20. 16:10–16:32

    Accra Open D.O.O.R. Action Agenda

    Ɔbenfo Ọbádélé Kambon and Prof Joseph Awetori Yaro, with rapporteurs and partners — proposed working allocation.

    Capture practical commitments, responsible people and follow-up dates.

21. 16:32–16:47

    Closing and vote of thanks

    Prof Yaro, Ɔbenfo Kambon and the co-MCs — final allocation to be confirmed.

22. 16:47–17:00

    Networking and media engagement

    Final conversations, introductions and next steps with participating institutions and partners.