President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to has raised eyebrows and provoked pointed questions. 

After all, this is the same Office of Diaspora Affairs that was lambasted not long ago as an unnecessary, wasteful appendage when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was in power. The ironic turn of events, with an office once deemed “superfluous” now being resurrected and staffed by a celebrity figure, smacks of political amnesia at best and blatant hypocrisy at worst. 

Lets examine KOD’s qualifications (or lack thereof) for the role, the relevance of the Diaspora Affairs office, and how political rhetoric around this office has flipped between the last NPP and Mahama’s new administration.

When news broke that would serve as , my first thought justifiably was: What exactly does he know about diaspora affairs? 

The official announcement painted KOD as a “cultural ambassador” known for “bridging the gap between Ghana and its diaspora”​. Indeed, KOD’s resume spans radio broadcasting, event hosting, and a stint in the UK working with fashion brands – experiences that undoubtedly gave him international exposure. But let’s be frank: running a drive-time radio show or a clothing line is a far cry from formulating diaspora engagement policy or advising a president on international diaspora strategy. 

Nowhere in KOD’s background do we see any serious policy work, diplomatic experience, or leadership in diaspora communities that would obviously qualify him for this role.

This appointment looks more like political patronage or PR. It’s as if Mahama wanted a familiar face to placate the youth and diaspora by proxy, rather than a seasoned expert who truly understands the complexities of Ghanaians abroad. He may have lived in London for a time, but he is hardly a representative of the everyday struggles and triumphs of the Ghanaian diaspora in, say, New York, Berlin, or Toronto. 

I would suggest that lived experience within diaspora communities should be a key qualification for this advisory position.

Would we appoint a career diplomat to run a fashion house simply because they’ve worn a suit? Likely not. Yet here we seem to be doing the inverse – appointing a fashion and media personality to handle a quasi-diplomatic, policy-heavy portfolio. 

KOD’s charm and patriotism are not in question – he undoubtedly loves Ghana and has been a positive cultural figure. But the issue is whether being patriotic and well-liked is enough to craft strategies to mobilize the diaspora’s expertise and resources. 

The position of Presidential Adviser on Diaspora Affairs should require more than a flair for style and a radio voice; it demands understanding complex issues like remittance policy, diaspora voting rights, dual citizenship, brain drain and gain, and international networking. 

On those fronts, KOD enters the job with a thin CV.

Before we write off the entire idea of a diaspora office, let’s consider its intended purpose. – economically, culturally, and intellectually. Remittances from Ghanaians abroad are a massive boon to the economy, . This places Ghana among the top African nations benefiting from diaspora inflows, second only to Nigeria in Sub-Saharan Africa​.

Beyond money, the diaspora brings skills, networks, and investments; they have been behind tech start-ups, real estate developments, and philanthropic projects back home. In theory, having a dedicated office or adviser to harness these contributions isn’t a bad idea.

A well-run Diaspora Affairs office could coordinate diaspora investment forums, simplify bureaucratic hurdles for returning citizens, champion policies like diaspora voting, and serve as a bridge between the government and Ghanaians abroad who want to contribute to national development.

The big question is whether an Office of Diaspora Affairs is the best way to achieve these goals, or just another bureaucratic layer (and a cushy job for political favourites). 

Under the NPP government (2017-2024), President Akufo-Addo certainly believed in elevating diaspora issues: his administration to give it higher priority and better coordination. What followed was a proliferation of roles and titles, ostensibly to engage the diaspora. The presidency ended up with positions like “Global Youth Ambassador for Diaspora Affairs” and even a “Diaspora Church Mobilization Officer” on the payroll​. 

The ; did we really need a special officer just to liaise with church groups abroad? It felt as if someone in government was playing SimCity with job titles, spawning “Diaspora” this and “Diaspora” that, with questionable impact.

Critically, what did the taxpayer get from those roles? There were certainly conferences, homecoming summits, photo-ops and plenty of talk. Perhaps some useful initiatives were started – for example, facilitating or promoting the in 2019. But much of that could have been accomplished by existing ministries (Tourism, Foreign Affairs) or Ghana’s embassies abroad. 

The danger of duplication and turf wars is real: a Diaspora Affairs office in the presidency might step on the toes of the Foreign Ministry’s diaspora desks or the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre’s outreach to investors abroad. Without clear mandates, it risks being just another bureaucratic silo.

Under Mahama’s new administration, it remains to be seen if the Diaspora Affairs office will be leaner and more focused, or if it will mirror the NPP era bloat. So far, Mahama has opted for a single high-profile adviser (KOD) rather than a cascade of deputies and “ambassadors” of various stripes – perhaps a nod to doing more with less. Still, salary, perks, and operational costs will add up. Is this truly the best use of funds when Ghana faces economic hardships at home? 

Or is it a public relations conduit aimed at showing the diaspora some love, without tackling the substantive issues (like the still-unrealized diaspora voting promised by law years ago)? A sharp look at outcomes is needed: if in a year’s time the diaspora adviser can point to increased investment flows, streamlined services for Ghanaians abroad, or concrete diaspora input into policy, then the office has merit. If not, it’s just another expense with a fancy title.

The most jarring aspect of KOD’s appointment is the . 

Let’s rewind to just a couple of years ago: .

In March 2023, the NDC actually published a list of 20 positions at the Presidency they wanted scrapped to save precious public funds. Guess what featured prominently at Number 1 on that hit list? “Youth Ambassador for Diaspora Affairs”​. The NDC statement mocked such roles as “needless political appointees” and evidence of “the waste of scarce resources” in a time of economic crisis​. Also on that list was the aforementioned “Diaspora Church Mobilization Officer”​– another dig at the NPP’s diaspora machinery. The language was blistering: these were described collectively as “redundant hangers-on at the Presidency”, and the NDC demanded their immediate dismissal​.

Fast-forward to today. The same NDC is in power, and it appears their tune has changed from “diaspora office is a waste” to “diaspora office is a must-have.” Under the erstwhile NPP government, an office for diaspora affairs was derided as a vanity project or jobs-for-the-boys. Under Mahama, the creation (or continuation) of essentially the same office is now presented as visionary statecraft. The stark contrast in tone is undeniable. 

Under NPP, the diaspora office was an overpriced luxury; under NDC, it’s suddenly a strategic link to development. This flip-flop reveals a lot about our political class: principles often take a backseat to convenience and expediency. What was bad for your opponent somehow becomes good for you once the tables turn. It’s the kind of political hypocrisy that Ghanaian voters have grown weary of. If something is truly wasteful, it should be wasteful regardless of which party’s logo is on the letterhead. 

Conversely, if engaging the diaspora at the highest levels of government is crucial, then perhaps the NDC should apologize for earlier dismissals and admit that the NPP had a point in prioritizing it.

Of course, one might argue there are nuances: The NDC might say “We criticized the excesses of the NPP’s diaspora apparatus, not the core idea of diaspora engagement.” Maybe Mahama believes having one diaspora adviser (KOD) is different from the NPP’s many appointees, and that this leaner approach is more justified. 

There could also be an element of political chest-thumping – perhaps Mahama wanted to prove he too can mobilize the diaspora, but in a smarter way, implicitly saying: “We’ll do it right this time.” 

Yet, even if that’s the case, the optics are hard to ignore: It looks like a classic case of “scratch my back when I’m in power, stab yours when I’m out.” The NPP, for their part, must be chuckling at the reversal. Don’t be surprised if they remind Ghanaians that the NDC once trashed the very office they are now embracing, undermining the credibility of Mahama’s team on this issue.

In the end, the appointment of KOD and the resurrection of the Diaspora Affairs portfolio under Mahama’s administration serve as a microcosm of Ghana’s governance woes. It underscores how easily lofty campaign principles can give way to political convenience. KOD may very well bring energy and creativity to the role – his fans will argue he’s a quick study who can leverage his extensive network of contacts at home and abroad. 

But he and his boss owe Ghanaians clear answers: What value will this Diaspora Affairs Office truly add? How will we measure success – is it in dollars of investment, number of diaspora projects, or something tangible beyond social media buzzwords? And will this office cost more in salaries and travel than it returns in benefits? These questions are even more pertinent given the NDC’s own recent yardstick for judgment: they lambasted such roles as wasteful indulgences​. 

By their own standard, KOD’s posting has much to prove.

It’s also high time our politicians stop treating governance like a revolving door of contradictions. Ghanaians have the right to call out double standards. If the NPP overdid it with diaspora hires, they deserved criticism. If the NDC now does the same in principle, they too deserve scrutiny – and perhaps a reminder of their previous stance, quoted back to them verbatim. Consistency and integrity in policy positions are a rare commodity, but without them, our political discourse becomes a joke.

The Office of Diaspora Affairs has itself become a diaspora – wandering from one administration to another in search of relevance. Whether it finds that relevance under KOD’s guidance, or simply confirms suspicions of being a jobs-for-the-boys unit, will unfold in the months ahead. Until then, citizens will be watching keenly, eyebrow raised and memory intact, ready to hold leaders accountable to the very words they spoke when the shoe was on the other foot. 

After all, what’s good for the goose should be good for the gander – and what was wasteful for the NPP doesn’t magically become wise for the NDC unless proven otherwise. The diaspora, and Ghana as a whole, deserve better than political musical chairs; they deserve honest, effective governance.