President John Dramani Mahama mentioned that the constitutional amendments at the moment into account may enable twin nationals to function members of parliament and ministers of state, and supported a constitutional evaluate that may increase the participation of Ghanaians residing overseas in parliament.
Talking at a Diaspora City Corridor assembly in London on Sunday (Could 31, 2026), President Mahama mentioned a invoice associated to the constitutional evaluate course of has been launched in Parliament and seeks to increase alternatives for Ghanaians with twin citizenship to take part in nationwide governance.
“We’re at the moment introducing a invoice in Parliament to evaluate the 1992 Structure to allow Ghanaians within the diaspora who maintain different passports or twin passports to take part in politics at parliamentary and ministerial ranges,” he instructed the rally.
His feedback come as Congress considers a constitutional modification that may take away restrictions that stop twin nationals from holding sure public workplaces.
The Structure of Ghana (Modification) Invoice 2025 seeks to take away restrictions affecting twin nationals searching for appointment to positions corresponding to Ambassador or Excessive Commissioner, Cupboard Secretary, Secretary of Defence, Service Chief and Inspector Common of Police. After the primary studying, the invoice was referred to parliament’s Structure and Authorized Affairs Committee for consideration.
President Mahama insisted that Ghanaians residing overseas ought to play a better position in nationwide improvement, describing the diaspora as Ghana’s “seventeenth area”.
“Ghana has 16 bodily areas however one digital area and that’s our abroad diaspora,” he mentioned.
He mentioned remittances from Ghanaians overseas amounted to about US$7.8 billion final 12 months, highlighting the contribution of the diaspora to the nation’s economic system.
The query of whether or not twin nationals ought to be allowed to carry sure public workplaces has been debated for a few years in Ghana. Supporters say the nation ought to profit from the abilities and worldwide expertise of Ghanaians overseas, whereas opponents say loyalty and nationwide safety points ought to be rigorously thought-about.
The difficulty has come again to the general public eye following a authorized and political controversy involving Assin North MP and Deputy Minister of Overseas Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, over citizenship points associated to parliamentary elections.
President Mahama referred to Mr. Quayson’s expertise and mentioned he informally described the proposed reforms because the “Gyakuyi Quayson Legislation.”
“I personally name this the Gyaqui Quaison Legislation due to the hardships this man went by means of,” he mentioned.
Earlier, Mr. Quayson urged the Ghanaian diaspora to embrace the federal government’s imaginative and prescient of treating Ghanaians overseas as full companions within the nation’s improvement.
“I used to be like one in every of you not too way back,” he instructed the viewers. “Let’s take this enterprise of calling the diaspora the seventeenth area severely.”
Ghana’s Excessive Commissioner to the UK and Eire, Saba Zita Benson, additionally known as for better engagement between the Ghanaian state and Ghanaians residing overseas, saying the diaspora was an vital a part of Ghana’s improvement efforts.
