Ghana has temporarily paused applications for citizenship for members of the African diaspora to make the system more user-friendly. Since 2016, descendants of Africans, particularly those whose ancestors were affected by the transatlantic slave trade, have been eligible to obtain Ghanaian nationality.
Over 1,000 people, including African American singer Stevie Wonder, have acquired citizenship. However, applicants have raised concerns about the complexity, cost, and tight deadlines, including the requirement to submit DNA evidence within a week. The application fee is $136, with an additional $2,280 for shortlisted candidates, followed by orientation and a citizenship ceremony overseen by President John Mahama.
Dr Erieka Bennet of the Diaspora African Forum said the issues will be resolved, and updated guidelines and timelines will be issued “in due course.” Many in the diaspora pursue citizenship to invest in sectors like real estate, agriculture, and tech, and to gain rights such as property ownership and voting.
Ghana’s outreach is part of its Pan-African vision, relaunched in 2019 as the Year of Return, encouraging global Africans to reconnect with the country.
