Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dominic Ayine, has announced that government has endorsed a proposal to amend the 1992 Constitution to lift the restriction that bars Ghanaian citizens by birth with dual nationality from serving as Members of Parliament solely because they hold another citizenship.
At a press briefing on government’s stance regarding the final recommendations of the Constitutional Review Committee, the Attorney-General explained that the current prohibition is inconsistent with the realities of contemporary citizenship and Ghana’s engagement with its diaspora.
As a result, Ghanaians with dual nationality may soon be eligible to contest parliamentary elections without being compelled to renounce their foreign citizenship, following government’s acceptance of the Committee’s recommendation.
“The current disqualification sits uneasily with our engagement with the diaspora and with the realities of modern citizenship,” he said.
Under the proposed amendment, a Ghanaian citizen by birth who also holds citizenship of another country will not be required to give up that citizenship before seeking election to Parliament.
Mr. Ayine stressed that the government’s position is intended to broaden political participation and ensure that qualified citizens are not excluded from public service simply because of their dual nationality status.
He further noted that multiple citizenship would no longer disqualify individuals from holding certain public offices, with the exception of the presidency and vice presidency.
“Except that of President and Vice President of the Republic,” he stated.
“Multiple citizenship will not disqualify a person from becoming Chief Justice of the Republic, becoming the head of the Electoral Commission, or becoming Speaker of Parliament,” he added.
He clarified, however, that the restriction on dual or multiple citizenship would remain in place for the highest offices of the land — President and Vice President — under the proposed reforms.
The Attorney-General emphasized that the decision forms part of government’s broader constitutional review process aimed at ensuring that Ghana’s legal framework reflects current social, political, and economic realities.
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