Ghana Leader: Build Home So Citizens Want to Stay

When the United States announced it would pause some visa processing for Ghana and other nations, many expected panic. Instead, one Ghanaian leader saw an opportunity to refocus on what really matters: building a country worth staying in.

Solomon Owusu, Director of Communication for the United Party, addressed the visa suspension on national television with an unexpected message. "The US is not heaven," he told viewers on the AM Show. "We need to educate our people and build this country so that citizens will want to stay."

The policy taking effect January 21 affects permanent residency applications from Ghana and 10 other countries while US officials review screening procedures. But Owusu argues the suspension shouldn't be treated as a crisis since it doesn't impact tourists, students, or work travelers.

His message struck a deeper chord about Ghana's ongoing brain drain challenge. Doctors, nurses, and other professionals regularly leave the country seeking opportunities abroad, creating gaps in critical services at home.

"We complain about brain drain, yet people leave because they believe opportunities are better elsewhere," Owusu explained. "If Ghana were better, many people would not be leaving."

The comment reflects a growing conversation across developing nations about reversing migration trends through domestic investment. Rather than viewing immigration policies as barriers, leaders like Owusu see them as motivation to create economic opportunities, improve infrastructure, and strengthen institutions.

The Ripple Effect

Owusu's perspective represents a shift from reactive diplomacy to proactive development. When countries focus on creating prosperity at home, the benefits multiply: families stay together, local economies strengthen, and communities retain the skilled workers they've invested in educating.

This approach could inspire other nations facing similar challenges to look inward. Instead of negotiating for more visa access, countries can channel that energy into job creation, healthcare improvements, and education systems that give citizens reasons to build their futures locally.

Ghana has the resources and talent to become that country. The question is whether leaders will turn this moment into momentum for the kind of development that makes staying home the most attractive option.

Sometimes the best response to a closed door is building something better right where you are.