President John Dramani Mahama has revealed plans to expand the political rights of Ghanaians living abroad, announcing that proposed constitutional reforms could soon allow dual citizens in the diaspora to serve as Members of Parliament and ministers.
The President made the disclosure during a Diaspora Townhall Meeting with the Ghanaian community in London as part of his official visit to the United Kingdom.
The announcement formed one of the key highlights of an engagement that focused on investment, governance, diaspora participation, and Ghana’s development agenda.
Addressing a packed gathering of Ghanaians resident in the United Kingdom, President Mahama stressed the importance of teamwork in governance and highlighted the progress being made by his administration through collaboration and shared purpose.
“The good thing is working as a team. You can have individual talents, but if you don’t work as a team, you won’t achieve as much progress as quickly as you should. But I’m happy to say that this government is working as a team, and we understand each other, and we’re working together”.
HE President John Dramani Mahama
The President’s remarks reflected his broader message that national development requires contributions from all stakeholders, including citizens living outside Ghana’s borders.
Diaspora Recognised as Ghana’s Seventeenth Region
A major theme of the President’s address was the growing importance of the Ghanaian diaspora in national development. President Mahama reiterated the government’s long-held view that Ghanaians living abroad constitute the country’s unofficial seventeenth region because of their immense contribution to the economy.
“As we have said, our diaspora is the 17th region of Ghana. We have 16 physical regions in Ghana, but we have one virtual region, which is our diaspora abroad”.
HE President John Dramani Mahama
The President highlighted the remarkable growth in remittance inflows from Ghanaians overseas, describing the diaspora as one of the country’s most important economic assets.
According to him, remittances reached record levels of more than 7.8 billion dollars last year, underscoring the critical role played by Ghanaians abroad in supporting families, businesses, and the national economy.
“I mean it’s obvious that you are critical to what we do because like the Minister said, your remittances have reached the highest ever, above 7.8 billion dollars actually last year”.
HE President John Dramani Mahama
President Mahama suggested that the economic contribution of the diaspora exceeds that of many regions within Ghana, making their inclusion in national affairs both logical and necessary.
Pathway to Political Participation
The President disclosed that a draft legislative proposal is currently before Parliament as part of the ongoing review of the 1992 Constitution. The proposed amendment seeks to remove restrictions that have prevented many dual citizens from fully participating in Ghana’s political system.
“To recognise that, as part of the constitution review, we currently have a draft legislation before Parliament to review the 1992 Constitution to allow Ghanaians in the diaspora who hold other passports or dual passports to be able to participate in our politics at the parliamentary and ministerial level”.
HE President John Dramani Mahama
If approved, the reforms would represent a significant shift in Ghana’s constitutional framework and could open the door for qualified Ghanaians abroad to contest parliamentary elections and hold ministerial appointments.
Supporters of the proposal argue that many members of the diaspora possess valuable expertise, international exposure, and professional experience that could contribute meaningfully to governance and national development.
Quayson Case Inspires Reform Push
President Mahama revealed that the proposed reforms were partly inspired by the legal and political challenges faced by the Assin North Member of Parliament James Gyakye Quayson.
The case attracted national attention and sparked debate about dual citizenship and eligibility for public office in Ghana. “And I privately call it the James Gyakye Quayson Law because of the tribulations this man went through,” the President remarked.
He recalled the difficulties experienced by the legislator and expressed confidence that the proposed constitutional changes would help prevent similar controversies in the future.
The announcement was warmly received by many members of the diaspora community, who have consistently advocated greater participation in Ghana’s political and governance processes.
UK Visit Focused on Investment and Partnerships
President Mahama explained that the primary purpose of his visit to the United Kingdom was to participate in the UK Investment Summit, where Ghana intends to showcase investment opportunities and strengthen economic partnerships.
According to him, several key government institutions and state agencies were represented at the summit to engage investors and provide detailed information about opportunities across various sectors of the Ghanaian economy.
The President noted that the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority, the State Housing Company, and several state owned enterprises were part of the delegation, creating opportunities for deeper engagement between investors and Ghanaian institutions.
Beyond the investment summit, President Mahama outlined an extensive programme of high level engagements, including a breakfast meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, a courtesy visit to King Charles, a lecture at Chatham House, and a keynote address at an Africa focused summit.
He said these engagements would help strengthen bilateral relations while projecting Ghana’s economic and diplomatic interests on the global stage.
As Parliament considers the proposed constitutional review, attention will focus on whether lawmakers embrace reforms that could redefine the relationship between Ghana and its citizens abroad.
If approved, the changes would mark a historic expansion of political inclusion and reinforce the growing recognition of the diaspora as a vital partner in Ghana’s development journey.
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