Ghanaians living abroad who hold dual citizenship could soon contest parliamentary seats and serve as ministers under proposals included in Ghana’s ongoing constitutional review process.
The move, if it succeeds, would remove longstanding legal barriers that currently prevent dual citizens from holding certain public offices, a notable shift that successive governments have stopped short of making.
President John Dramani Mahama made the announcement during a diaspora town hall meeting in London on the sidelines of a UK investment visit, framing it as a recognition of the outsized contribution Ghanaians abroad make to the country.
The political announcements came against the backdrop of a busy diplomatic programme.
He told the gathering he was scheduled to hold a breakfast meeting with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, pay a courtesy call on King Charles III, and deliver a lecture at Chatham House, all within the same visit.
Back home, the President painted a picture of a country regaining its footing. Ghana has exited its IMF Extended Credit Facility programme after inheriting what he said was a derailed arrangement, one where almost every performance target had gone off track by the time his administration took office.
“The sacrifices made by Ghanaians have paid off,” he said, “Ghana is back on track. Ghana is working again.”
The turnaround had drawn international attention, with Ghana now frequently cited at World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings as a recovery model. Non-oil growth exceeded seven percent, driven by agriculture, manufacturing, and digital services, a sign, President Mahama said, that the economy was not simply riding on oil revenues.
On governance, he disclosed that about 36 active investigations into alleged misuse of public office were underway.
“I have made it clear that accountability should not be delayed until a change of government,” he said. Blockchain tools were being deployed in public financial management and artificial intelligence was already working at ports to plug revenue leakages.
Ghana is also preparing to refine its own crude oil domestically again, alongside a push to process at least 50 percent of its cocoa locally.
“We intend to create jobs and increase value within our own economy,” President Mahama said.
On the world stage, Ghana will host an international conference in Accra this June titled The Next Steps, bringing together people of African descent to chart a path forward following Ghana’s push at the United Nations, where it championed a resolution describing the transatlantic slave trade as one of the gravest crimes against humanity.
The resolution passed with 123 votes, a result many had considered out of reach.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
