Ghana's Council of State advises against Dual Citizenship Bill for public office
via GhanaWeb2 min read
The Council of State has advised against the passage of the Constitution of Ghana Amendment Bill, 2025, which aimed to allow dual citizens to hold high-level public offices. The proposed amendment sought to revise Article 82 of the 1992 Constitution, removing restrictions for positions such as Member of Parliament, Ambassador, Chief of Defence Staff, and Inspector-General of Police. Introduced in Parliament in February 2026, the Bill was sponsored by Mpraeso MP Davis Ansah Opoku, who argued it would allow qualified Ghanaians abroad to contribute to national service. President John Dramani Mahama also supported the reforms, announcing in May 2026 that legislation was initiated to enable Ghanaians with foreign citizenship to contest parliamentary elections and serve in ministerial roles, referring to it as the "Gyakye Quayson law." Despite the Council of State's advice not being legally binding, its constitutional role in counseling the President is expected to influence further deliberations. The proposal has sparked significant public and political debate, with supporters advocating for diaspora participation and opponents emphasizing sole allegiance to Ghana for sensitive public offices. This debate follows a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that found parts of the Citizenship Act restricting eligibility for certain public offices unconstitutional.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
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