Ghana’s constitution disallows certain Governmental positions to be held by Ghanaians with Dual Citizenship – Lawyer, Dominic K. Brenya Otchere
Lawyer Dominic K. Brenya Otchere, a private legal practitioner in Ghana, says Ghana’s Constitution disallows certain Governmental positions to be held by Ghanaians with Dual citizenship.
He highlighted this crucial aspect of the country’s constitution, which prohibits Ghanaians with dual citizenship from holding certain governmental positions.
This statement was made during an appearance on Kessben FM’s Maakye program, where he was invited to clarify the legal implications of dual citizenship for government officials, such as Professor Frimpong Oppong, who was asked to renounce his Canadian citizenship.
“The 1992 constitution initially did not permit Ghanaians to hold dual citizenship, with Article 8 explicitly disallowing Ghanaians from holding two citizenships. However, the constitution was amended in 1996 through Act 527, which allowed for dual citizenship,” he said.
“Despite this amendment, certain governmental positions remain off-limits to Ghanaians with dual citizenship. These positions include Ambassador or High Commissioner, Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Director of Immigration, and any office specified by an act of parliament.” he added.
The reason for this restriction, according to Lawyer Otchere, is that individuals with dual citizenship hold allegiance to the country of their second citizenship, which could create conflicts of interest and compromise their loyalty to Ghana.
Furthermore, the Citizenship Act 591 of 2000 expanded the disqualification criteria to include the positions of Chief Justice and Justice of the Supreme Court. This means that individuals with dual citizenship are also ineligible to hold these high-ranking judicial positions.
He further stated, “It is essential to understand the implications of dual citizenship on governmental positions in Ghana. The constitution and subsequent amendments have established clear guidelines to ensure that individuals holding public office prioritize their allegiance to Ghana.”
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Story by: Priscilla Asamoah Baffour
