KOD Calls for Bold Reforms to Unlock Diaspora Investment at Ghana Expo Property & Lifestyle 2025

Kofi Okyere Darko, Director of the Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President, has called for decisive and coordinated reforms to address long-standing obstacles in Ghana’s property market, stressing that resolving these challenges is critical to unlocking diaspora investment and supporting national development.

Delivering the keynote address at the Ghana Expo Property & Lifestyle 2025 (Global Edition) held on 17th December 2025 at the Alisa Hotel (Pavilion) in Accra, KOD conveyed warm greetings from President John Dramani Mahama and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a transparent, secure, and investor-friendly real estate ecosystem.

Speaking on the theme “Resolving Obstacles in the Ghanaian Property Market,” KOD described adequate housing as a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of dignity, stability, and long-term economic growth. He noted that while the real estate sector plays a vital role in employment creation and capital formation, it also exposes some of Ghana’s most persistent structural challenges.

He identified five key obstacles undermining confidence in the property market: land tenure insecurity arising from the dual customary and statutory systems; fragmented regulation across multiple institutions; limited access to affordable and long-term financing; infrastructure deficits in housing developments; and a growing trust deficit, particularly among diaspora investors.

According to KOD, the Ghanaian diaspora remains one of the country’s greatest assets, bringing not only remittances but also patient capital, global expertise, and a strong commitment to nation-building. However, he acknowledged that unclear land titles, multiple land sales, slow dispute resolution, and weak post-purchase accountability have caused many diaspora investors to approach the sector with caution.

He outlined the Mahama Administration’s reform agenda, which includes digitising land records, strengthening title registration, improving land dispute resolution, and expanding affordable housing through public-private partnerships and rent-to-own models aligned with the government’s 24-Hour Economy Policy. He also announced plans for diaspora-focused investment frameworks, including standardised investment pathways, accredited developers, and stronger inter-agency coordination.

KOD emphasized the strategic role of the Diaspora Affairs Office as a bridge between investors and credible public institutions, noting that property ownership remains one of the strongest anchors for diaspora reintegration and sustained national engagement.

He challenged developers and financial institutions to move beyond short-term gains and embrace radical transparency, high build quality, post-occupancy accountability, and innovative financing products tailored to diaspora realities.

In concluding, KOD stressed that overcoming the challenges in Ghana’s property market is a shared national responsibility that can unlock significant diaspora capital, reduce the housing deficit, create jobs, and enhance Ghana’s reputation as a trusted investment destination.

He commended Ama Agyekum, Victoria Agyekum, and the Ghana Property & Lifestyle Expo team for their consistency and commitment to building trusted platforms for diaspora investment.

“Let us move from hesitation to confidence, from fragmented systems to coordinated solutions, and from obstacles to opportunity,” he said.

The Ghana Expo Property & Lifestyle (Global Edition) brought together government officials, diplomats, developers, financiers, and diaspora investors to explore sustainable pathways for growth in Ghana’s real estate sector.