Asantehene Challenges Diaspora-based Africans to Aim for Global Business Ownership

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has stirred up a sense for ownership of global companies and institutions among Diaspora-based Africans.

Acknowledging the dominance and influence of many Africans in various fields, the King expressed dissatisfaction, saying the ultimate goal must be owning global corporations.

His Majesty stated that the first step to changing such a narrative is admission.

“We should also be frank to admit that while it is true that the African diaspora have imposed themselves, whether in the field of music-gospel, dance hall, jazz, blues, calypso, reggae, Zuk, the creative industries and sports, in most cases the companies behind are not African diaspora-owned and we need to address and change that.”

The King made these remarks at the 2025 GUBA Awards and Dinner on November 12, 2025, in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Present at the event were the President of Barbados, HE Sandra Mason and the Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Amiss Thomas Mitchell.

The GUBA Awards was founded by Dentaa, a British-Ghanaian entrepreneur, actress and TV presenter in 2010 as a platform to award the great work achieved by Ghanaians and friends of Ghana based in Britain.

“GUBA Awards is about celebrating Ghana in essence. It’s about putting out people in a platform and letting the young people know that we have great role models,” she explains.

Story by Hajara Fuseini