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Ghana Citizenship > News > Citizenship > Ghana Diaspora Citizenship Suspension: What Changed in 2026
Ghana Citizenship Team
February 2, 2026
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Ghana Diaspora Citizenship Suspension: What Changed in 2026

In late January 2026, the Government of Ghana temporarily suspended new citizenship applications for people of African descent applying under Ghana’s special diaspora citizenship pathway. The decision became public on February 2, 2026, following reporting by BBC Africa and confirmation from Ghanaian government officials.

The suspension was announced by the Ministry of the Interior, working in coordination with the Office of Diaspora Affairs at the Presidency. Officials emphasized that the decision is temporary and administrative in nature, not a repeal of Ghana’s citizenship laws.

According to the government, the pause is intended to allow time to review and improve the application process so it becomes more accessible, efficient, and transparent for diaspora applicants.

What Exactly Was Suspended

The suspension applies only to new applications under the special citizenship pathway for members of the African diaspora who do not otherwise qualify through birth, descent, marriage, or standard naturalization.

The following pathways are not affected:

This distinction is important. Ghana has not closed citizenship broadly. Only this specific diaspora focused route is paused.

 

Who Made the Decision

The suspension was issued as an executive administrative directive, not through Parliament.

Agencies involved include:

  • Ministry of the Interior
  • Citizenship Secretariat
  • Ghana Immigration Service
  • Office of Diaspora Affairs of the President

Because no law was changed, the program can be reinstated once revised guidelines are approved.

 

Why Ghana Paused the Program

Multiple consistent issues were cited by applicants, diaspora organizations, and acknowledged by officials.

1. Unrealistic timelines

Applicants were often required to submit DNA evidence and additional documents within extremely short deadlines, sometimes as little as one week.

Diaspora advocacy groups stated this was impractical for applicants living outside Ghana.

2. DNA testing concerns

Applicants raised concerns about:

  • Which DNA laboratories were acceptable
  • The reliability of DNA testing to prove modern Ghanaian ancestry
  • The lack of alternatives when documentary lineage existed

3. High and fragmented costs

Applicants reported confusion and concern about costs, including:

  • Initial application fee of approximately USD 136
  • Shortlisted applicant fee of approximately USD 2,280
  • Additional costs for DNA tests, travel, accommodation, and document authentication

4. Administrative strain

Following the Year of Return and Beyond the Return initiatives, demand increased significantly. Processing capacity did not scale at the same pace, leading to delays and inconsistent applicant experiences.

 

What Happens to Applicants Already in the Process

The government has not canceled existing applications outright.

Applicants who already:

  • Submitted applications
  • Paid fees
  • Completed vetting
  • Attended orientation

are currently paused, not rejected.

No new completion dates have been announced. Applicants are being advised to wait for updated timelines and instructions from the Ministry of the Interior.

 

You Can Still Obtain Citizenship Through Naturalization

It is important to note that Ghana’s citizenship by naturalization pathway remains fully open and unaffected by this suspension.

Naturalization applies to foreign nationals who have:

  • Lived lawfully in Ghana for an extended period
  • Held valid residence permits
  • Demonstrated integration into Ghanaian society
  • Maintained good character and a clean criminal record

Applicants who qualify through naturalization are assessed under existing law and are not impacted by the pause on the diaspora specific citizenship pathway. For some individuals already living long term in Ghana, naturalization may remain the most predictable route to citizenship.

 

How This Impacts Right of Abode

The suspension does not affect the Right of Abode process.

Right of Abode remains available to people of African descent in the diaspora and continues to be processed by the Ministry of the Interior. Right of Abode allows eligible individuals to:

  • Live in Ghana indefinitely
  • Work and conduct business
  • Enter Ghana without visas

While Right of Abode is not the same as citizenship and does not grant voting rights, it remains a viable long term option for those planning relocation, investment, or extended residence during the suspension period.

 

Relationship to Year of Return and Beyond the Return

Ghana’s outreach to the African diaspora is rooted in its Pan African history and was amplified through:

Officials stated that the suspension is intended to strengthen, not reverse, this engagement. The government reaffirmed its commitment to welcoming members of the global African family and described the pause as a reset to protect the integrity of citizenship.

 

How Ghana Compares to Other Countries

Other African countries offer diaspora related pathways, but with different structures.

  • Sierra Leone offers a DNA based citizenship route with fewer procedural steps.
  • Benin passed a nationality law granting citizenship to people of African descent tied to the transatlantic slave trade.
  • Nigeria does not currently offer an equivalent citizenship by ancestry program.

Ghana remains one of the most open countries in this area, but also one of the most procedurally demanding.

 

Will the Program Return

All available signals suggest yes.

The government stated that:

  • The suspension is temporary
  • Updated guidelines will be issued
  • The process will resume once improvements are finalized

No repeal has occurred, and no political statements indicate abandonment of the program.

 

What Applicants Should Do Now

Practical guidance for prospective applicants:

  1. Do not submit new applications until official reopening
  2. Preserve all documentation, receipts, and correspondence
  3. Avoid third party agents claiming they can bypass the suspension
  4. Consider alternatives such as Right of Abode or long term residency and naturalization
  5. Monitor official announcements from the Ministry of the Interior

 

Conclusion

Ghana’s temporary suspension of diaspora citizenship applications reflects administrative reform, not policy retreat. The decision acknowledges real operational challenges and aims to rebuild the process in a more transparent and sustainable way.

For diaspora applicants, this is a delay, not an ending. Citizenship by naturalization remains available, Right of Abode is unaffected, and the legal framework for Ghanaian citizenship remains intact. The government has publicly committed to resuming the diaspora citizenship program once improvements are complete.

 

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