Their shared journey reached a profound milestone in January 2025 when they, alongside their children, officially received Ghanaian citizenship as part of the nation's historic diaspora induction ceremony. This honor, granted to over 500 individuals including activist Dr. Umar Johnson, symbolizes Ghana's "Year of Return" legacy evolving into enduring partnerships.
For Harris, citizenship is more than a passport—it's a launchpad for impact. Drawing from his experiences in rehabilitation and business mentorship, he has directed resources toward youth empowerment and entrepreneurial initiatives in Ghana. These efforts, channeled through personal ventures and collaborative platforms, address the nation's youth unemployment rate of 13% and align with Ghana's National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP), which seeks to create 1 million jobs by 2030. Harris's work offers a blueprint for how lived expertise can fuel Africa's entrepreneurial renaissance.
Forging Futures: Details of Harris's Ghanaian Investments
Harris's investments prioritize equipping Ghanaian youth with the tools for self-determination, blending his background in motivational speaking (via his 2015 memoir Beneath Every Great Man: The Heroic Tale of a Woman's Love and a Mother's Sacrifice) with practical on-the-ground action. Key facets include:
Youth Mentorship and Leadership Programs: In partnership with Ghana's Ministry of Youth and Sports, Harris launched the "Rise Up Ghana" series in March 2025—a quarterly workshop program targeting 500 urban and rural teens in Accra and Kumasi. These sessions focus on life skills, financial literacy, and anti-recidivism strategies, inspired by Harris's own reentry experiences. Participants receive stipends and seed funding for micro-ventures, with early outcomes showing 70% launching side hustles in digital services and crafts.
Entrepreneurial Incubators for Emerging Leaders: Through a $150,000 commitment via the Harris Family Foundation (co-managed with Yandy), Harris supports NEIP-affiliated hubs that provide business training, access to microfinance, and networking for young founders. A flagship incubator in Tema has incubated 30 startups since April 2025, specializing in agrotech and e-commerce—sectors vital to Ghana's $50 billion informal economy. These ventures emphasize women and formerly incarcerated youth, mirroring Harris's advocacy for second chances.
Community-Led Skill-Building Projects: Extending family involvement, the Harrises have funded vocational centers in the Ashanti Region, offering certifications in sustainable agriculture and creative entrepreneurship. With a $200,000 allocation, these projects have trained 300 participants, fostering collaborations with diaspora mentors and generating initial revenues of $75,000 through product sales at local markets.
Harris's total investment exceeds $500,000 to date, amplified by media partnerships that spotlight success stories, inspiring a new wave of "repatriate entrepreneurs."
The Vital Call to Support: Prosperity for All
For Africans on the continent, Harris's initiatives deliver essential scaffolding in a youth demographic (70% under 30) brimming with potential yet hampered by limited opportunities. By prioritizing mentorship and micro-finance, his programs reduce barriers to entry, spurring innovation in Ghana's $60 billion economy and creating sustainable livelihoods. In a nation where entrepreneurship drives 80% of new jobs, such targeted support could accelerate poverty reduction by 15%, per NEIP projections, while instilling values of resilience and community.
For the diaspora, Harris's endeavors represent a beacon of reciprocal engagement. As a symbol of redemption and family unity, he illustrates how personal narratives can translate into collective capital—transforming remittances into equity stakes that yield 12–18% returns in social enterprises. Supporting him advances the "Sixth Region" paradigm, where our global experiences enrich ancestral homelands, heal intergenerational divides, and normalize relocation as a viable path to fulfillment. In Harris's words from a recent Accra address, "Citizenship isn't the end—it's the beginning of building bridges back."
Invitations to Action
Invest or Mentor: Contribute to the Rise Up Ghana fund via the Harris Family Foundation (harrisfamilyfoundation.org) or volunteer as a diaspora coach—email [email protected].
Collaborate Locally: Ghanaian organizations can partner on incubator expansions; contact via NEIP's portal.
Share the Vision: Amplify participant stories on social media and join our diaspora entrepreneur forum.
Mendeecees Harris's Ghanaian chapter affirms that empowerment is a shared harvest. Let us sow together, reaping abundance for generations.
In purposeful partnership,
Stephen Lecha
My African Heritage
P.S. Ready to launch your venture? Our 2026 guide to Africa's youth investment incentives is coming soon—subscribe for your copy.