The Council of State has advised against the passage of the Constitution of Ghana (Amendment) Bill, 2025, dealing a major setback to efforts to allow dual citizens to occupy certain high-level public offices currently restricted under Article 8(2) of the 1992 Constitution.
The proposed amendment would have opened positions such as Member of Parliament, Ambassador, Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector General of Police, Secretary to the Cabinet and Director of Immigration to Ghanaians holding dual citizenship.
The Bill, first read in Parliament in February 2026, was referred to the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee for further scrutiny.
Its lead sponsor, Mpraeso MP Davis Ansah Opoku, argued that the reform reflected modern realities and was not intended to question the loyalty of dual citizens.
President John Dramani Mahama had publicly backed the proposal, describing overseas Ghanaians as the country’s “17th region” and citing diaspora remittances of about $7.8 billion as justification for expanding their political participation.
He also referred to the proposal as the “Gyakye Quayson law,” in reference to the citizenship-related legal challenges involving Assin North MP James Gyakye Quayson.
The Council of State’s recommendation carries significant constitutional weight and comes amid ongoing debate over dual citizenship, following a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that struck down parts of the Citizenship Act relating to restrictions on public office holders.
