The PALI Center for Transformative Society has thrown its weight behind the Council of State’s counsel on the proposed Dual Citizenship Amendment Bill, urging Parliament to prioritise national interest and long-term consequences over theoretical appeal.

In a statement signed by Chief Icon Frank Papa Kwabena Kumi, Policy Strategist and Lead Director, the policy think tank said the Council of State’s position, as communicated by Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin on July 7, 2026, is “both prudent and timely.”

The center warned against repeating past mistakes where good legislative intent failed in implementation. It cited the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act, 2006 (Act 699) – ROPAA as a key example.

“Enacted with the notable objective of extending voting rights to eligible Ghanaians living abroad, the Act has, for more than two decades, faced considerable legal, administrative, logistical, and financial challenges that have impeded its full implementation,” the statement noted.

“This experience highlights the importance of exercising caution before introducing constitutional and legislative reforms whose practical outcomes remain uncertain.”

While acknowledging the contributions of dual citizens through remittances, investments, knowledge transfer, entrepreneurship, and professional expertise, PALI Center posed a fundamental policy question: “If an individual genuinely desires to occupy a public office that requires undivided allegiance to the Republic of Ghana, what prevents that individual from voluntarily renouncing his or her foreign citizenship, as currently required under the Constitution, in order to satisfy the eligibility criteria?”

It argued that the existing constitutional provisions do not permanently exclude dual citizens. They only require “a clear demonstration of exclusive allegiance before assuming certain sensitive public offices.”

The center said the concerns of the framers of the 1992 Constitution — including divided allegiance, national and human security implications, conflicts of interest, diplomatic complexities, and public accountability — remain relevant today.

“In an increasingly interconnected and geopolitically complex world, these concerns may be even more compelling than they were at the time the Constitution was drafted,” it said.

“Constitutional safeguards governing eligibility for certain public offices should not be viewed as discriminatory barriers but as deliberate mechanisms designed to preserve national sovereignty, protect the public interest, and ensure that holders of strategic constitutional offices owe undivided loyalty to the Republic of Ghana.”

PALI Center said it remains open to broader national dialogue on constitutional reform but insists any amendment affecting citizenship, allegiance, and eligibility for public office must involve utmost caution, broad stakeholder consultation, and a clear appreciation of long-term implications, “therefore aligns itself with the Council of State’s counsel and urges Parliament to carefully consider the broader national interest before proceeding with any amendment to the existing constitutional provisions on dual citizenship and eligibility for public office.”