James Gyakye Quayson, the Deputy Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs, is strongly advocating for the swift passage of the Dual Citizenship Amendment Bill in Ghana.
He asserts that the government must prioritize this crucial legislation, which aims to eliminate restrictions preventing Ghanaians with dual nationality from holding certain public offices.
Unlocking Diaspora Potential for National Development
Currently, dual citizens are barred from occupying key high-level positions such as Ambassador, Chief of Defense Staff, and Inspector-General of Police. The proposed bill seeks to foster greater participation of Ghanaians in the diaspora in the country’s governance, leveraging their expertise and contributions.
During his vetting by the Appointments Committee on Friday, July 25, 2025, the Assin North MP emphasized the detrimental impact of the current restrictions. “I think that is why about three years ago, we did table the Dual Citizenship Amendment Bill.
This is something that we have to take very important as a nation because we look at our GDP and remittances from the Diaspora alone is one of the major contributors along with our gold and cocoa,” Quayson stated.
“To just look at that and not tap into the wealth, the knowledge, and the experience out there, then we will be doing ourselves a disservice. A lot of nations have recognized that.”
A Commitment to Legislative Reform and Diaspora Engagement
Quayson pledged to ensure the Dual Citizenship Amendment Bill is passed during his tenure. He highlighted that current legal challenges not only restrict public office holding but also hinder some diasporan Ghanaians from even acquiring dual citizenship.
“I will work tirelessly along with my Minister to see how best we can pass the Dual Citizenship Amendment Bill that will eradicate the challenges we are having,” he affirmed. Beyond legislative reform, Quayson also committed to facilitating visa processes for Ghanaians in the diaspora. “In the meantime, before that goes into effect, I will work with Minister Ablakwa to make sure that we can facilitate the process for them to get a visa to come to Ghana.”
Reflecting on his personal experience with a dual citizenship legal battle, Quayson stressed, “Nobody should be going through what I went through.” His strong advocacy underscores a personal and professional commitment to reforming Ghana’s dual citizenship laws to better serve the nation and its global citizens.
