Public officials with dual citizenship may evade accountability — Akwatia MP

The Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, has raised concerns about the possible consequences of allowing dual citizens to occupy certain public offices in Ghana.

His comments come amid discussions on the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to remove constitutional restrictions preventing dual citizens from holding some public positions.

The Council of State has advised against its passage, raising concerns about constitutional breaches.

The lawmaker said while the bill is intended to allow more Ghanaians abroad to contribute to national development, Parliament must carefully consider issues of accountability and national interest before approving it.

"Can you imagine someone who holds dual passports, citizenship with two different countries gets appointed by the President and serves as a minister, the day of accountability, after he is done, he picks the other passport and leaves," Mr. Baidoo said on TV3's New Day on Wednesday, July 8.

The Akwatia MP cited the ongoing corruption case involving former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, who is currently outside Ghana, as an example of the challenges the country could face in ensuring accountability.

He argued that some countries protect their citizens from extradition, making it difficult for Ghana to pursue individuals who may hold citizenship elsewhere.

Mr. Baidoo stressed that the debate should not be centred on specific individuals but should focus on creating a legal framework that protects Ghana's interests.

"If we are looking at the Gyakye Quayson to enact this law, we should also look at Ken Ofori-Atta to also inform us whether we really need this law. That is not to personalise it, but we must also look at it because there should be a time for accountability," he said.

The lawmaker stressed that the current constitutional restrictions have served the country well and urged Parliament to thoroughly assess the implications of the proposed amendment before making a final decision.

Meanwhile, the Dual Citizenship Bill has already passed its first reading in Parliament and is expected to go through further legislative processes before a decision is taken on its passage.