Ghana’s dual citizens deserve better

Ghanaian-born dual citizens have been treated as common criminals when seeking to serve as Members of Parliament or gain political appointments.

For example, Adamu Daramani Sakande, an NPP MP for Bawku, received a two-year prison sentence in 2012 due to his dual citizenship.

Gyakye Quayson, an NDC MP for Assin North, faced severe legal and political struggles, resulting in his expulsion from parliament and a by-election organized in his constituency. Luckily, he won again after renouncing his other citizenship.

Despite the significant contributions of Ghanaians abroad to Ghana, with over $32 billion in remittances from 2016 to 2023 (World Bank data) and substantial financial support for MPs and presidential candidates across the two main political parties, these people are still being treated as aliens or common criminals when attempting to return home and participate in Ghanaian politics.

Now, there is good news! The NDC party offers hope by pledging to address this national problem.

The 2024 manifesto promises to engage the diaspora community to reform dual citizenship laws and enhance their involvement in Ghana’s democratic process when the party wins the December 7th general election. (Page 162, NDC Resetting Ghana Manifesto 2024).

The media and civil society organizations have a crucial role in holding the National Democratic Congress (NDC) accountable for its manifesto promises should it come to power in 2025.

It is imperative that these entities actively scrutinize and monitor the party’s commitments to ensure they are fulfilled.

The era of political parties making grand promises without delivering on them must come to an end.

Effective oversight by these watchdogs is essential to foster transparency and integrity in governance.