By Edward Dankwah
Accra, July 14, GNA – The PALI Centre for Transformative Society has endorsed the Council of State’s position on the proposed Dual Citizenship Amendment Bill, urging Parliament to exercise caution in any attempt to amend constitutional provisions governing eligibility for public office.
A statement issued to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) and signed by Mr Frank Papa Kwabena Kumi, Policy Strategist and Lead Director of the Centre, described the Council of State’s advice on the matter as “prudent and timely.”
The Centre said public policy must be assessed not only on the basis of its intended objectives but also its long-term practical implications.
It cited the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 2006 (ROPAA), as an example of legislation whose implementation had faced legal, administrative, logistical and financial challenges despite its objective of extending voting rights to Ghanaians living abroad.
The Centre questioned the need for a constitutional amendment when dual citizens could voluntarily renounce their foreign citizenship to qualify for public offices that required exclusive allegiance to Ghana.
It, however, acknowledged the significant contributions of Ghanaians with dual citizenship through remittances, investments, entrepreneurship, knowledge transfer and professional expertise.
According to the Centre, the current constitutional provisions do not permanently bar dual citizens from holding public office but require them to demonstrate undivided loyalty before occupying sensitive constitutional positions.
It noted that concerns that informed the framers of the 1992 Constitution, including divided allegiance, conflicts of interest, national security considerations, diplomatic obligations and public accountability, remained relevant.
The statement said those concerns had become even more significant in an increasingly interconnected global environment.
The Centre maintained that constitutional safeguards governing eligibility for certain public offices should be viewed as measures to protect national sovereignty and the public interest rather than discriminatory restrictions.
It called for broad stakeholder consultations and careful consideration of the constitutional, governance and national security implications of any proposed amendment affecting citizenship, allegiance and eligibility for public office.
The PALI Centre urged Parliament to place the broader national interest at the centre of deliberations on any amendment to existing constitutional provisions on dual citizenship and qualification for public office.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah