An Assessment of Ghana’s Policies and Institutional Framework to Promote State-led Academic Diaspora Engagement

Abstract

Despite African governments’ increased interest in tapping the development
potential of their diaspora, the transfer of skills by professors and
researchers in higher education institutions abroad has received limited
attention. Known as the academic diaspora, these groups are recognised as
reliable mediators for African universities in the midst of unending globalisation,
transnationalism and internationalisation of higher education. This
article explores Ghana’s policy environment and institutional framework
to tap the development potential of its academic diaspora for higher education.
We conclude that capacity building and the extension of rights and
privileges are important elements that need to be embraced by the government
to motivate experienced and highly skilled academics to contribute to
the country’s higher education sector.

Key words: academic diaspora, Ghana, diaspora engagement, higher
education, skills transfer, brain gain