In August 2020, as the world grappled with a pandemic and a long-overdue racial reckoning, a speech by Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao cut through the noise.

The message was for the African diaspora, and it remains urgently relevant today. Her words were a clarion call for return, but with a critical, non-negotiable condition: a radical shift in attitude.

As Ghana’s “Year of Return” momentum evolved into the “Beyond the Return” initiative, and as other African nations opened their doors, Dr. Chihombori-Quao, the former African Union Permanent Representative to the U.S., identified a silent threat to the homecoming dream: the ego of the returnee.

The ‘Been-To’ Mentality: A Barrier to Building

Dr. Chihombori-Quao didn’t mince words. She spoke directly to the experience of being a “been-to,” a term used in Ghana for someone who has “been to” the West.

“We go back home with an attitude. We think just because we’ve been to, we know more than the ones at home. That attitude has got to change,” she stated.

This mindset, she argued, is a primary reason why many returnees struggle to find their footing. It creates an invisible wall, fostering a dynamic of superiority that alienates the very people essential for collaboration.

Whether it’s a continental African returning from the diaspora or an African American settling on the continent, the pitfall is the same: arriving as a lecturer, not a learner.

“The diaspora doesn’t return to lecture. And the continent doesn’t wait to be saved,” her comments remind us. The assumption that Western exposure equates to superior knowledge is not only incorrect, but it also erases the deep, contextual expertise held by those who never left. As she put it plainly, “Africans have a lot to teach you too.”

Solidarity, Not Superiority: The Partnership Paradigm

The core of her message is a redefinition of the returnee’s role. It is not about a heroic figure arriving to “save” Africa, a narrative steeped in colonial tropes. Instead, it is about showing up as an equal partner. “Going ‘back home’ isn’t about superiority, it’s about solidarity,” the sentiment encapsulates.

This means approaching every interaction with humility. It means listening to local entrepreneurs, understanding community needs, and respecting established systems. A returnee’s international expertise in finance, technology, or healthcare is invaluable, but it only becomes powerful when it is applied in partnership with local knowledge. The goal is to co-create solutions, not impose imported ones.

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The Urgency of Organisation: A Space to Fill

Dr. Chihombori-Quao’s 2020 address also carried a stark warning about the geopolitical and economic realities of a rising Africa. She recalled a moment when President Trump addressed African leaders, mocking the paradox of a resource-rich continent with widespread poverty. The punchline was a call to action: Africa is open for business, and if the diaspora does not organize, others will.

“If you don’t show up and you stand up and be counted, next time the contracts go to the Chinese, shut up,” she asserted. This frames diaspora engagement not as a charitable endeavour, but as a strategic imperative. It is about claiming a seat at the table as the continent charts its own developmental agenda—an agenda that envisions Africa as a unified market, not 54 fragmented nations.

For decades, other global powers have filled the space. The question she poses is whether the diaspora will remain a bystander or become a primary stakeholder in Africa’s future. “How do we give you contracts when we don’t know where you are? How do we know about your business when you don’t stand up?” she challenged.

Coming Home to Build Together

The ultimate takeaway from Dr. Chihombori-Quao’s enduring message is that the call to “come home” is profound, but the manner of arrival is what determines success. It is a call to come home and build together.

This means rejecting the labels of “been-to” and “local” that divide. It means exchanging condescension (looking down on local opinions) for contribution and pride for partnership.

The opportunity before the diaspora is immense. As Africa takes its place on the world stage, it invites its sons and daughters abroad to be part of the journey—not as saviours on a pedestal, but as humble collaborators in the trenches.

Because when we divide ourselves, as her words imply, we weaken the very future we claim to care about. And that is a risk the African renaissance cannot afford.

Stay tuned for real-time stories breaking in Ghana. Return to the page for more stories as they break. (Updated February 17, 2026).

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Happy Monday! Stay informed with today’s front pages of Ghanaian newspapers, all in one place. Newspapers for February 17, 2026.