The Council of State has officially advised Parliament not to pass the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (Amendment) Bill, 2025, popularly known as the Dual Citizenship Bill, which seeks to remove restrictions preventing dual citizens from holding certain high public offices.
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin announced the Council’s position to Members of Parliament on Tuesday, July 7, after receiving the formal advisory opinion.
The Bill, which was first introduced in the Eighth Parliament where it received the Council of State’s support, lapsed after that Parliament was dissolved. It was subsequently reintroduced in the current Parliament.
According to the Speaker, the Bill was referred to the Council of State on March 30, 2026, in line with Article 291(2) of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates the Council to provide advice on bills seeking to amend the Constitution.
“I received the advisory opinion of the Council of State on the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana Amendment Bill 2025,” Bagbin told the House. “The Bill seeks to amend provisions of the Constitution relating to citizenship-based qualifications for public office. The Council has duly rendered its advice and, in doing so, has advised against the passage of the Bill by Parliament.”
The Speaker noted that the Council’s current position represents a reversal from its earlier endorsement during the Eighth Parliament.
“While the advice of the Council of State does not determine the legislative judgment of Parliament, it constitutes an important constitutional contribution to the deliberative process contemplated by the framers of the Constitution,” Bagbin emphasised.
Under the 1992 Constitution, dual Ghanaian citizens are currently barred from holding certain key positions, including President, Vice President, Speaker of Parliament, Chief Justice, and other specified public offices. The proposed amendment seeks to remove these restrictions.
The Council of State’s advice, though highly influential, is not binding on Parliament, meaning lawmakers can still choose to proceed with the Bill if they deem it fit.