The Council of State has advised against the passage of the Constitution of Ghana (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to permit Ghanaians with dual citizenship to occupy selected public offices currently restricted by the Constitution.
The proposed legislation, now before Parliament, would allow dual citizens to serve in positions such as Member of Parliament, Ambassador, Inspector General of Police, Chief of Defence Staff and other sensitive offices presently reserved for persons without dual allegiance.
The Bill has received backing from President John Dramani Mahama, who has argued that Ghanaians living abroad should be given greater opportunities to participate in national governance. Speaking at a Diaspora Town Hall meeting in London, he disclosed that he privately refers to the proposal as the “Gyakye Quayson law,” in reference to the Assin North MP’s citizenship-related legal battles.
President Mahama also pointed to the economic contribution of Ghanaians abroad, citing diaspora remittances of about US$7.8 billion as evidence of their importance to national development. He described overseas Ghanaians as the country’s “17th region.”
Despite the Presidency’s support, the Council of State’s recommendation poses a significant challenge to the proposed amendment, given its constitutional role of advising the President on matters of national importance.
The proposal comes against the backdrop of a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that invalidated portions of the Citizenship Act relating to restrictions on dual citizens, highlighting the continuing legal debate over eligibility for public office.
