Ghana's Largest Labour Union Opposes Dual Citizens Serving in Parliament
The Ghana Trades Union Congress has publicly rejected a constitutional amendment that would allow dual citizens to run for parliament and serve as MPs, marking a major pushback against diaspora political inclusion just a
Ghana's largest labour federation has thrown cold water on a landmark proposal to let dual citizens serve in parliament without renouncing their foreign nationality.
The Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC), which represents hundreds of thousands of workers across the country, announced its opposition on September 9, saying the change would not serve the national interest. TUC General Secretary Joshua Ansah told reporters the association does not support amending Article 94(2)(a) of the 1992 Constitution, which currently bars anyone "owing allegiance" to another country from sitting as an MP.
The constitutional fight
The Constitutional Review Committee recommended the amendment earlier this year as part of a broader push to open key public offices to the estimated three million Ghanaians living abroad, many of whom have acquired citizenship in the US, UK, Canada, and across Europe. In July, the government published a White Paper accepting the removal of dual-citizenship restrictions for most senior posts—including Chief Justice, Chief of Defence Staff, and Electoral Commission Chair—but left the presidency and vice presidency off-limits.
Parliament laid the Constitution of Ghana Amendment Bill, 2025 in February and referred it to committee review. First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor signaled the formal scrutiny period had begun.
But the Council of State advised against passage in early July, though that opinion is not binding. And now the TUC—one of the country's most powerful civic voices—has weighed in against the parliamentary eligibility clause specifically.
Why it matters to the diaspora
For Ghanaians abroad, the stakes are high. Ghana recorded nearly $7.8 billion in remittances in 2025, roughly 6 percent of GDP and a critical buffer against currency volatility. Many in the diaspora argue they have earned a seat at the table—not just as funders but as lawmakers.
The current rules force dual citizens to renounce their foreign passport before contesting elections, a hurdle that has kept diaspora voices out of the chamber even as successive governments have courted their investment and expertise.
“"By allowing the use of national IDs, we simplify the process and make it more inclusive. It is a step towards acknowledging the importance and influence of our diaspora in national development."”
That was the language from election officials earlier this year when discussing diaspora voter registration reforms. But when it comes to actually holding office, the reception has been cooler.
Attorney General Dr Dominic Ayine, presenting the White Paper in July, said the existing restrictions "are no longer consistent with Ghana's engagement with its diaspora or the realities of modern citizenship." Yet Ansah and the TUC say the proposed change is "controversial" and would compromise parliamentary integrity.
What comes next
The amendment requires a two-thirds majority in parliament and a national referendum to pass. With civil society divided and powerful unions now openly opposed, the bill's path forward is uncertain.
Ghana's next general election is in 2028. If the amendment stalls, dual citizens will remain shut out of parliamentary candidacy for at least another cycle—even as their remittances prop up the economy and the government continues to woo their capital and skills.
For now, the debate moves back to committee, where MPs will weigh whether opening parliament to diaspora Ghanaians is an overdue recognition of modern citizenship or a constitutional risk the country cannot afford.
