A total of 155 members of the African diaspora were officially granted Ghanaian citizenship at a ceremony held in Accra on Tuesday, marking another milestone in the country’s ongoing effort to reconnect with people of African descent across the world.
The citizenship certificates were presented during a formal ceremony attended by senior government officials including the Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and representatives of diaspora organisations. The recipients, drawn largely from North America, the Caribbean and Europe, took the oath of allegiance pledging loyalty to Ghana and commitment to contributing to the country’s development.
The ceremony forms part of Ghana’s broader diaspora engagement policy, which gained global prominence following the launch of the “Year of Return” initiative in 2019. The campaign was designed to commemorate 400 years since the first enslaved Africans arrived in the Americas and to encourage descendants of enslaved Africans to reconnect with the continent.
Ghana’s legal framework that enables the granting of citizenship to diaspora members is anchored in the Citizenship Act, 2000 (Act 591), which governs the acquisition of Ghanaian nationality through birth, registration, descent and naturalisation. The law also introduced provisions allowing dual citizenship and opened pathways for persons of African descent abroad to apply for Ghanaian nationality under specific conditions.
In addition to the citizenship law, Ghana’s immigration legislation provides for the Right of Abode, a special status that allows persons of African descent in the diaspora to live and work in Ghana indefinitely once approved by the Minister for the Interior and the President.
Government officials noted that the initiative is intended to strengthen historical and cultural bonds between Ghana and the global African diaspora while encouraging investment, tourism and knowledge exchange. Many of the recipients are professionals, entrepreneurs and cultural advocates expected to contribute to Ghana’s economic and social development.
The citizenship conferment also comes after authorities recently announced a temporary pause in new diaspora citizenship applications in order to review and streamline the process. Officials say the suspension is intended to improve vetting procedures and administrative efficiency before reopening the programme to new applicants.
Despite the pause, government representatives emphasised that Ghana remains committed to maintaining strong links with the diaspora and ensuring that the programme continues to serve as a bridge between Africa and its global descendants.
Over the years, hundreds of people of African descent from countries including the United States, Canada, Jamaica and the United Kingdom have been granted Ghanaian citizenship as part of efforts to deepen diaspora engagement and encourage a sense of belonging among Africans abroad.
Officials say the latest group of 155 new citizens represents another step in Ghana’s broader vision of positioning itself as a cultural and economic home for Africans worldwide, while strengthening diplomatic, cultural and investment ties with the diaspora community.
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