Accra courts diaspora capital for its 24-Hour Economy as a soaring cedi quietly shrinks the value of money sent home

With remittances at a record US$7.8B in 2025 — now larger than foreign direct investment, near 6–7% of GDP — Ghana is trying to redirect a slice of that money from household consumption into productive investment. At a London diaspora town-hall on 4 June, during the president’s UK and Ireland visit, a senior adviser urged Ghanaians to back the “24-Hour Economy” and export programmes; the Bank of Ghana’s “Remit2Invest” initiative pitches the diaspora as long-term domestic investors.

The currency complicates the appeal. The cedi has rallied roughly 40% against the dollar, so each remitted dollar converts to fewer cedis — and inflows briefly dropped about 50% in mid-2025 as senders recalibrated.

What this means for you: Two practical takeaways. First, if relatives depend on a set cedi amount, a stronger cedi means you may need to send more dollars to cover the same local cost. Second, Accra is genuinely open for diaspora investment right now — but weigh returns, exit terms and where the cedi heads next before moving beyond family support into capital commitments.