Ghana’s Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has met with members of the Ghanaian community in Belgium, including chiefs, elders, youth representatives, and members of the Ghana Council, as part of her official visit to Brussels for the 2025 Global Gateway Forum.

The meeting provided an opportunity for open and meaningful dialogue on key national and diaspora issues, with participants raising concerns about food safety, youth discipline, labour export, and illegal mining (galamsey).

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang expressed appreciation to the Ghanaian community for their continued support and contributions to national development.

She urged them to remain connected to their homeland and assured them of the government’s commitment to sustaining programmes that deliver tangible benefits to communities back home.

“Let us not forget our home. Government remains determined to sustain initiatives that bring real, lasting impact to our people,” she said.

Addressing the issue of illegal mining, the Vice President reaffirmed the government’s resolve to end galamsey, noting that while Ghana has a long history of mining, the current level of environmental destruction is unprecedented.

“Ghana has mined for generations, but we have never seen such degradation until recent years.

New measures are being implemented to ban mining in forest reserves and water bodies.

Fixing the problem will take time, but we are determined to restore our environment,” she assured.

On food safety, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said the government is collaborating with researchers and agricultural experts to enhance soil testing and promote safe farming practices that protect both consumers and the environment.

Speaking on youth development, the Vice President encouraged parents not to portray Ghana negatively to their children abroad but rather to instil a sense of belonging and national pride.

“Parents must not present Ghana as a deterrent but as home — a place where everyone belongs,” she advised.

She also urged young people to maintain discipline and plan for the future, emphasising that “every action has consequences.”

Touching on labour migration, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang acknowledged that the growing demand for Ghanaian workers abroad reflects the high quality of local training.

However, she stressed the need for stronger protections to ensure that Ghanaian workers are treated with dignity and respect in foreign labour markets.

She highlighted key government initiatives such as the Adwumawura Programme and the 24-Hour Economy Policy, which are designed to create expanded employment opportunities both in Ghana and for members of the diaspora interested in returning home.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang concluded by calling for unity and collaboration among Ghanaians everywhere, reiterating the government’s vision of building a nation anchored on opportunity, fairness, and dignity.

“Together, we can build a Ghana that offers opportunities, fairness, and dignity to all,” she said.