Ghana Suspends Citizenship Applications for People of African Descent
Ghana to Review Diaspora Citizenship Programme After Applicant Complaints
Ghana has temporarily suspended its citizenship application process for people of African descent, citing the need to review and improve the system to make it more accessible and user-friendly.
Since 2016, Ghana has offered a pathway to citizenship for members of the African diaspora who can prove ancestral ties to the continent. The initiative was largely designed for descendants of Africans displaced during the transatlantic slave trade and has since attracted strong global interest.
More than 1,000 people, including renowned African American singer Stevie Wonder, have successfully obtained Ghanaian citizenship under the programme.
Complaints Over Cost and Documentation
Despite its popularity, the process has faced growing criticism from applicants. Concerns include the number of application stages, tight documentation deadlines, and high overall costs.
Dr Erika Bennett, ambassador for the Diaspora African Forum, which supports diaspora relocation to Ghana, told the BBC that many applicants struggled with the requirement to submit DNA evidence within one week of applying. She described the timeframe as “impossible” for most applicants and noted that some also questioned the reliability of DNA testing.
Applicants are first required to pay a $136 application fee, with shortlisted candidates then paying an additional $2,280. Successful applicants undergo vetting, attend a one-day citizenship orientation, and finally receive citizenship at a ceremony overseen by President John Mahama.
Dr Bennett said the one-week deadline for submitting supplementary documents was difficult to meet and expressed confidence that the government would address the concerns and reopen the process.
Government Response and Diaspora Impact
Ghanaian authorities have confirmed that the application process has been paused and said updated timelines and guidelines will be issued “in due course,” without specifying when applications will resume.
The suspension has created uncertainty for some members of the diaspora who were planning to relocate, invest, or acquire property in Ghana. Citizenship is often sought to enable long-term settlement, property ownership, voting rights, and access to public services.
A Broader Pan-African Vision
Ghana’s outreach to Africans worldwide is rooted in the Pan-African vision championed by the country’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah. The initiative gained renewed momentum in 2019 with the Year of Return, which encouraged Africans in the diaspora to reconnect with their heritage.
Today, diaspora investors are active in real estate, agriculture, technology, and small businesses across Ghana. Other African nations, including Benin and Sierra Leone, also offer citizenship or residency options to people of African descent based on verified ancestral ties.
