The R2 Project convened a virtual Knowledge Co-Production Workshop with leaders of Ghanaian associations from London, Toronto, and Kitchener–Waterloo on October 31, 2025. Representatives from the Ghana Association of London and Middlesex, Ghana-Canada Association of Ontario and the Ghanaian Canadian Association, Waterloo Region attended the workshop. The R2 project research team, including the project manager and postdoctoral fellows, welcomed the participants and introduced the project’s goals, objectives, and activities.
The session marked an important step in strengthening collaboration with diaspora stakeholders and knowledge users as part of the project’s participatory research approach. By bringing community leaders to the dialogue, the workshop helped build trust, foster mutual learning, and ensure that the project’s design aligns with the needs and priorities of the communities it aims to serve.
Community representatives welcomed the initiative, noting the lack of comprehensive data on remittances from Canada and the project’s potential to inform policy and support development in Ghana.
Discussions highlighted the cultural context of remittance practices within the Ghana-Canada migration corridor, including household support and capital investments, as well as collective projects like hospitals, libraries, and climate-related infrastructure. Emerging issues such as digital platform risks, transparency concerns, and the growing need for reverse remittance options for students and families were also raised. These valuable comments will inform and strengthen our research design going forward.
Climate-related adaptation emerged as a major theme, with participants highlighting how hometown associations often finance costly irrigation systems and boreholes as communities face declining rainfall and drought. Participants also noted that remittances can reduce the use of environmentally harmful coping strategies during climate or economic shocks.
Diaspora leaders expressed strong support for the R2 Project and welcomed continued engagement. Next steps include further data collection, engagement with remittance service providers, and plans for a follow-up policy dialogue once preliminary findings are available.