Govt approves proposal to allow dual citizens to hold most public offices

The government has accepted a recommendation by the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) to permit Ghanaians with dual citizenship to hold public office, except the positions of President and Vice President.

The decision, contained in the government's White Paper on the CRC's recommendations, also removes the constitutional requirement for Ghanaian citizens by birth to renounce their foreign citizenship before contesting parliamentary elections.

Presenting the White Paper, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, said the existing constitutional restrictions on dual citizens no longer reflect Ghana's relationship with its diaspora or the realities of modern citizenship.

Under the proposed reforms, Ghanaians by birth who hold the citizenship of another country will no longer be barred from contesting parliamentary elections solely because they possess dual citizenship. They will also no longer be required to relinquish their foreign nationality before seeking election to Parliament.

Dr. Ayine explained that the current constitutional provision unnecessarily excludes many Ghanaians living abroad who are willing to contribute to national development through public service.

“The current disqualification sits uneasily with our engagement with the diaspora and with the realities of modern citizenship,” he stated.

The government has also accepted a recommendation to remove dual citizenship as a disqualifying factor for several other high-level public offices.

If the proposed constitutional amendments are approved, dual citizens will become eligible for appointments to positions such as Chief Justice, Speaker of Parliament and Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, provided they satisfy all other constitutional qualifications.

However, the offices of President and Vice President will remain exclusively reserved for persons who do not hold citizenship of any other country.

The proposed reforms form part of a broader package of constitutional amendments aimed at modernising Ghana's governance framework, expanding democratic participation and harnessing the expertise of Ghanaians in the diaspora. The recommendations will, however, have to undergo the required constitutional amendment procedures before they can come into force.