More than 150 members of the African diaspora were officially granted Ghanaian citizenship at a ceremony held at the Accra International Conference Centre, marking what government officials described as another step in reconnecting Ghana with descendants of Africans around the world.
The ceremony brought together government officials, diplomats, and diaspora representatives, with new citizens taking the oath of allegiance to the Republic of Ghana as part of the naturalisation process.
Speaking at the event on Monday (9 March), Kofi Okyere Darko, Director of Diaspora Affairs at the Presidency, said the ceremony symbolised far more than the formal granting of nationality.
“Citizenship is more than a legal designation. It is an embrace,” he said. “Today, history comes full circle. Ghana is not welcoming strangers; Ghana is receiving family.”
Darko said the initiative builds on efforts started in 2016 to create stronger ties between Ghana and people of African descent living abroad. He explained that the government aims to deepen diaspora engagement and turn historical connections into lasting partnerships.
According to him, the African diaspora represents a critical partner in Africa’s development through skills, innovation, and investment.
“The future of this continent cannot be the same and will not succeed without the diaspora,” he said, adding that the new citizens would become partners in shaping Ghana’s ideas, communities and aspirations.
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak Mohammed, said the naturalisation process followed a thorough review of each applicant before approval.
He described the ceremony as part of Ghana’s broader commitment to reconnect Africa with descendants of those displaced through the transatlantic slave trade.
“Today’s ceremony reflects the growing international recognition of the historical injustice associated with slavery and the importance of meaningful engagement with the African diaspora,” he said.
The oath of allegiance was administered by Annette Sophia Essel, a Circuit Court judge, who reminded the new citizens that the naturalisation process represents a formal pledge of loyalty to Ghana and its constitution.
Addressing the gathering on behalf of the President, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang said the event represented both citizenship and a deeper reconnection between Ghana and the global African family.
“Distance may separate our people, but it does not erase identity,” she said. “Ghana continues to be a home for the global African family, and your presence here marks a moment of renewal and reconnection.”
She also highlighted Ghana’s long-standing relationship with the African diaspora, noting that the vision of Kwame Nkrumah positioned the country as a gateway for unity and dignity for people of African descent worldwide.
The Vice President added that the government is strengthening policies to encourage diaspora investment, entrepreneurship, education and cultural exchange.
“Our goal is to build a Ghana where Africans everywhere can contribute meaningfully to our shared prosperity,” she said.
The new citizens—many of whom traced their ancestry to Africa—were welcomed as part of what officials described as Ghana’s continuing effort to reconnect with its global family and transform historical ties into future partnerships.
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