No Conditions Attached: Rethinking Ghana’s Duty Of Care For Citizens In Crisis Abroad (1)

Ghana is considering a new approach to its duty of care for citizens facing crises abroad, aiming to prevent the need for unbudgeted expenditures. The current issue stems from the GH¢49 million spent on evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa without a standing fund. The proposed solution involves a modest charge on existing transactions like passport applications and consular services, building a pool of money outside the annual budget to address emergencies promptly.

An additional opt-in contribution, similar to a pension top-up, would allow those with the means to set aside more funds for personal use. However, this proposal requires proper financial controls, such as an elected diaspora advisory panel to oversee fund expenditure. While implementing such a system may be complex, especially in verifying expenses across various currencies and legal systems, it is a necessary step to ensure responsible use of funds.

The focus should be on providing assistance to citizens who have contributed to the country through taxes and social security, rather than viewing the fund as a replacement for these benefits. Repatriation should remain a last resort, reserved for cases where a citizen's life is genuinely at risk or they voluntarily choose to return.

Ghana's significant diaspora population, spread across various countries, generates substantial remittances, which the state can leverage to strengthen its existing infrastructure for locating and supporting its citizens abroad.