The government has accepted a recommendation by the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) to allow Ghanaians with dual citizenship to hold public office, with the exception of the offices of President and Vice President.
Africans & Diaspora
The decision, contained in the government’s White Paper on the CRC’s recommendations, will remove the current constitutional requirement that Ghanaian citizens by birth renounce their foreign citizenship before contesting parliamentary elections.
Presenting the White Paper today in Accra, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, said the existing restrictions on dual citizens are no longer consistent with Ghana’s engagement with its diaspora or the realities of modern citizenship.
Under the accepted recommendation, a Ghanaian citizen by birth who also holds the citizenship of another country will no longer be disqualified from contesting for Parliament solely because of their dual citizenship status. They will also not be required to renounce their other nationality before seeking election.
“The current disqualification sits uneasily with our engagement with the diaspora and with the realities of modern citizenship,” Dr Ayine stated.
Ghana economic reports
Beyond Parliament, the government has also accepted a proposal to remove dual citizenship as a disqualifying factor for several high-ranking public offices.
If the recommendation is implemented, dual citizens will be eligible to serve in positions such as Chief Justice, Speaker of Parliament and Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, provided they meet all other constitutional requirements.
“Multiple citizenship will no longer disqualify a person from holding certain offices except that of President and Vice President of the Republic. So, the fact that you have multiple citizenship will not bar you from becoming Chief Justice of the Republic, or becoming the head of the Electoral Commission, or, for instance, becoming Speaker of Parliament,” Dr Ayine said.
Executive Branch
However, the offices of President and Vice President will remain reserved for persons who do not hold multiple citizenship.
The proposed changes form part of broader constitutional reforms aimed at updating Ghana’s governance framework and strengthening democratic participation. They will still have to go through the required constitutional amendment processes before taking effect.
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