When President Donald J. Trump signed a bill on September 22, 2025, raising H1B visa processing fees to an eye-watering $100,000, the shockwaves were immediate.
For many Ghanaians in America, this effectively slammed the door on opportunities they had long relied on to build careers, support families, and contribute to Ghana’s development. Coupled with Washington’s abrupt cuts to aid programs benefiting Ghana, the message could not be clearer: America is closing its doors.
That is why Ghanaians in Canada are urging President John Dramani Mahama to look north not just west for Ghana’s next chapter of international engagement.
As he prepares to mount the podium at the United Nations General Assembly on September 25,2025 the timing could not be more urgent.
The Canada option
History offers a blueprint. In 2011, the late President John Evans Atta Mills visited Canada to court investors and strengthen ties. His outreach produced tangible gains, showcasing Ghana as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world at the time. Canada responded with investment, goodwill, and collaboration.
Today, Ghanaians in Canada are asking President Mahama to follow that example.
If America is retreating from global partnerships, then Ghana must expand its horizons. Canada offers untapped potential not only in trade and investment, but in technology, education, and resource development.
Diaspora expectations
For decades, Ghanaian presidents have made it a tradition to meet with diaspora communities in the U.S. during annual UN trips.
These meetings are more than ceremonial photo-ops; they are platforms where the diaspora can share ideas, raise concerns, and connect directly with leadership.
Yet Ghanaians in Canada are too often overlooked. Apart from rare visits Professor Atta Mills in 2011, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo before and after 2016, Canada’s Ghanaian diaspora has been treated as an afterthought.
Meanwhile, we continue to remit millions of dollars, fund community projects, and represent Ghana with pride in one of the world’s most diverse and dynamic nations.
Why should our voices matter less simply because of geography? Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary, these cities are home to hardworking Ghanaians who want to contribute ideas on issues ranging from illegal mining and environmental sustainability to youth empowerment, technology partnerships, and healthcare.
Why it matters now
America’s shift in policy should be a wake-up call.
The U.S. has long been Ghana’s go-to partner, but overreliance on one ally leaves us vulnerable.
By cultivating stronger ties with Canadian, Ghana can diversify its partnerships and ensure resilience in an unpredictable global order.
Canadian investors are already showing interest in Africa’s emerging markets.
Ghana, with its stable democracy and strategic location, is well-positioned to become their gateway.
But seizing that opportunity requires leadership and visibility from the very top.
The call to action
President Mahama, as you prepare for your address in New York, we urge you to extend your journey just a little further.
Toronto is barely an hour’s flight away. Ottawa is waiting. Canada is listening.
A town hall with Ghanaians in Canada would send a powerful signal: that every diaspora community matter, not just those in America.
It would demonstrate inclusivity, fairness, and vision. More importantly, it would tap into the wealth of talent, innovation, and goodwill that Canadian Ghanaians are eager to share.
This is not about special treatment. It is about equity.
If U.S.-based Ghanaians can count on meeting their president every year, then their Canadian counterparts deserve the same respect.
We the North
We are not passive observers. We are contributors, innovators, and ambassadors.
We carry Ghana’s story in boardrooms, classrooms, and communities across Canada.
Our remittances fuel households. Our investments strengthen the economy. Our voices can help shape policy.
Mr. President, your leadership is needed here as much as it is in Washington. Come to Canada.
Meet with us. Hear us. Let us stand together as one Ghanaian family, united across borders, committed to building a stronger future.
Because the world is shifting. America may be turning inward, but Canada is ready to engage. And so are we.
Canada is not just waiting, it is calling. And Ghanaians here are ready to answer.
The time is now. The place is here. Mr. President, come north.
From STEPHEN ARMAH QUAYE, Toronto-Canada
