Professional Affiliation

Research Analyst, African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET)

Expert Bio

Richmond Commodore currently works as a Research Analyst (Consultant) at the ACET. He has handled and supported multiple projects in the areas of public finance, organizational restructuring, financial inclusion, migration, development finance and trade across over six African countries. Richmond has extensive experience in economic data analysis, political economic analysis, impact assessments, project management, survey design, and administration. He holds a Bsc. in Economics and an MPhil in Economics from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.

Wilson Center Project

Diaspora Development Financing in Sub-Saharan Africa: Lessons from Country Experiences

Project Summary

In the face of looming debt crisis, high cost of borrowing from the international capital market, and dwindling official development assistance (ODA), sub Saharan African (SSA) countries are increasingly exploring innovative ways to finance development. While the diaspora is widely acknowledged as a potential source of development funds it remains largely untapped, and limited to remittances –which doesn’t directly translate to development. SSA countries are grappling with (a) how to leverage remittances for growth and (b) how to engage the diaspora for optimum benefits. With the impact of remittances on poverty alleviation and conflict prevention well established, a deeper understanding of diaspora engagement beyond remittances will only seek to amplify these conflict prevention measures.

Major Publications

• Sakyi, Commodore and Opoku " Foreign Direct Investment, Trade Openness and Economic Growth in Ghana: An Empirical Investigation ” 2015
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• Brown, Commodore, and A menyo Talent Mobility: Catalyst for Economic Growth and Competitiveness ” presented at “Building Peace Through Inclusivity: Strengthening Economic, Social, and Political Inclusion in Africa,” the 2016 Southern Voices Network Annual Conference