Ghana Halts Citizenship Process for African Descent Applicants

Wed Feb 04 2026 03:37:03 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Ghanaian government has temporarily suspended citizenship applications for members of the African diaspora to improve the process following numerous complaints regarding its complexity and costs.

Ghana has paused the citizenship application process for individuals of African descent in response to feedback about its complexity and high costs. Since 2016, citizenship has been available to those who can prove their African ancestry, particularly targeting descendants of transatlantic slavery victims. Over 1,000 people have received citizenship in recent years, including notable figures like musician Stevie Wonder. The government promises to review and enhance the application system, with new guidelines forthcoming.

Ghana has paused citizenship applications for members of the African diaspora in order to make the system more accessible and user-friendly.

Since 2016, those who can prove their ancestors came from Africa have been able to get Ghanaian nationality. It was primarily aimed at the descendants of those who were victims of the transatlantic slave trade.

More than 1,000 people - including African American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder - have obtained Ghanaian citizenship in recent years. However, some applicants have complained about the number of stages involved, as well as the high cost.

Dr Erieka Bennet, ambassador for the Diaspora African Forum, emphasized that many applicants struggled with the requirement to submit DNA evidence within a week of the application, stating the timeframe was 'impossible' for most, and some questioned the reliability of DNA testing.

The application fee stands at $136 (£100), and shortlisted candidates must pay an additional $2,280 (£1,700) to proceed. After vetting, successful candidates attend a one-day citizenship orientation before receiving their nationality in a ceremony overseen by President John Mahama.

Bennet expressed confidence that the issues would be resolved, aiming to resume the application process soon, while the government indicated that updated timelines and guidelines would be issued without a specified timeframe.

This uncertainty has caused anxiety among potential applicants eyeing relocation or investment opportunities in Ghana, a country rooted in a post-independence Pan-African vision. The outreach to the African diaspora was relaunched in 2019 as the Year of Return, fostering global interest in reconnecting with Ghana.

Currently, members of the diaspora are investing in various sectors, seeking citizenship to own property, vote, and access public services. Other countries, such as Benin and Sierra Leone, also offer citizenship to individuals of African descent based on verified ancestral ties.