Requirements for dual citizenship application

The Citizenship Act (Act 591 of 2000) provides, among others, that, "A citizen of Ghana who acquires the citizenship of another country in addition to his Ghanaian citizenship shall notify in writing the acquisition of the additional citizenship to the Minister in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed."

The application for registration as a dual citizen is made on Form 10 (Application For Registration As a Dual Citizen).

1. Qualification for Applying for Dual Citizenship

Citizen of Ghana who holds citizenship of another country in addition to citizenship of Ghana. Provide the following:

• Evidence of Ghanaian nationality
• Current Ghanaian Passport and photocopy
• Evidence of citizenship of other country
• Current passport and photocopy OR
• Certificate of Naturalisation (where applicable) and photocopy
• Four (4) Photographs [Applicant's name to be clearly written behind photographs]

Citizen of other country who also qualifies for Ghanaian citizenship.  (Ghanaian citizenship can be through Birth, Descent, Registration, Naturalisation or Adoption). If applicant qualifies for Ghanaian citizenship by descent, Provide following: Evidence of Descent

• Current passport of applicant's Ghanaian parent and photocopy
• Evidence of citizenship of other country
• Birth Certificate (Including full one)
• Current passport and photocopy

Four(4) photographs [Applicant's name to be clearly written behind photographs] Applicants are also to provide the following:

• Names, postal addresses and telephone numbers of two (2) close relatives living in Ghana who may be contacted for further information.
• Residential/Contact telephone number(s) of the applicant in the UK.

2.Submission of Applications

Applications are to be submitted in person along with supporting documents and photocopies for examination and endorsement. Do not detach the original receipt from the application. You are to submit the application together with the original receipt. You may make a copy of the receipt and application forms for your records.

3.Other Information

• Dual citizenship applications are processed by the Ministry of Interior, Ghana and currently take between six (6) and twelve (12) months to be processed;
• Upon successful processing of the Dual Citizenship application, the applicant will receive a Dual Citizenship certificate and a Dual Citizenship ID Card.
• Holders of dual citizenship cannot hold certain specified offices in Ghana, including the following:
  • Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court
  • Ambassador/High Commissioner
  • Secretary to the Cabinet
  • Chief of Defence Staff
  • Inspector-General of Police
  • Commissioner of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service
  • Commissioner, Value Added Tax Service
  • Director of Immigration Service
  • Director-General, Prisons Service
  • Chief Fire Officer
  • Chief Director of a Ministry
  • Rank of Colonel in the Army or equivalent in other security services
  • Any other public office that the Minister may prescribe by Legislative Instrument

Dual Citizenship Application forms can be obtained from the Ministry of the Interior, Ghana On acquiring the dual citizenship status, applicants would be entitled to apply for a Ghanaian passport besides the passport of the other country whose citizenship they have already acquired. All enquiries to be sent to dualcitizenship@gmail.com

BENEFITS

Dual citizenship policy is argued to create the following benefits.

• It provides the individual the right to obtain passports from either country of citizenship.
• It creates a simpler procedure for individuals revisiting former homelands for extended periods of time.
• It creates the opportunity to pursue employment opportunities in either country of nationality.
• It improves the right to social benefits, to own land or property and to inherit assets from either country.
• It creates the entitlement to convey nationality rights to offspring.
• It caters for those who feel equal alliance to both countries of origin

DISADVANTAGES

• Dual citizenship exposes citizens with dual nationality to the expectation that they should contribute, for example through national service, or taxation to their former countries.
• Dual nationality possibly complicates some domestic legal issues such as custody disputes.
• Dual nationality requires the impossible or unreasonable that people should owe allegiance to more than one country.
• Dual nationality is counter to the notion of national identity, loyalty and cohesion.