Ghana Suspends Citizenship Applications for People of African Descent

UPDATED
2026-02-03, 16:10 UTC

Ghana has temporarily halted its citizenship application process for people of African descent as authorities undertake a review aimed at improving efficiency and accessibility, according to a joint statement from the government.

The suspension was announced on Sunday by the Ministry of the Interior and the Diaspora Affairs Office of the President , which jointly oversee the framework for diaspora citizenship applications.

In the statement, the two bodies said the pause is intended to review and streamline existing procedures, citing the need for a more user-friendly and effective system for applicants from the global African diaspora.

Officials said the halt applies to new applications and is temporary. No date was given for when submissions will resume. Authorities said revised guidelines and timelines will be communicated through official government channels once the review is completed.

“The temporary suspension is to allow for a comprehensive review and enhancement of the application process to ensure efficiency and accessibility,” the Ministry of the Interior and the Diaspora Affairs Office said in their joint communication, as reported by Ghanaian media.

The statement added that the decision does not signal a withdrawal from Ghana’s long-standing engagement with people of African descent worldwide, but rather an effort to strengthen administrative systems supporting that engagement.

Ghana’s nationality framework allows individuals of African descent in the diaspora to apply for citizenship under specific conditions. The policy has been part of broader state efforts over the past decade to deepen ties with Africans abroad, alongside complementary pathways such as Right of Abode permits and dual nationality provisions.

The citizenship initiative has drawn applicants from North America, the Caribbean, Europe, and other parts of Africa, according to previous government disclosures and media reporting.

The suspension affects a pan-African and global constituency seeking formal legal ties with Ghana. It highlights administrative pressures facing African states as diaspora engagement expands beyond symbolic initiatives into formal legal and citizenship processes.

For African countries pursuing structured diaspora integration, Ghana’s review underscores the need to align political outreach with scalable administrative systems capable of handling sustained international demand.