The Government of Ghana has officially conferred Ghanaian citizenship on more than 100 members of the African diaspora in a historic ceremony held in Accra on Monday, March 9, 2026.
The new citizens took the oath of allegiance during the event, which forms part of the country’s ongoing initiative to reconnect with people of African descent worldwide and strengthen historical, cultural and economic bonds.
Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, who presided over the ceremony, described the occasion as more than a formal administrative process. She said it symbolises reconnection, healing and the restoration of ties between Ghana and descendants of Africans displaced by the Transatlantic Slave Trade centuries ago.
“The granting of citizenship today represents reconnection, healing and the restoration of ties between Ghana and descendants of Africans who were forcibly taken from the continent,” Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stated.
She highlighted the government’s leadership, under President John Dramani Mahama, in pushing for international recognition at the United Nations of the Transatlantic Slave Trade as one of the greatest crimes against humanity.
The Vice President referenced iconic historical sites such as Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle, which served as major holding points for millions of Africans before they were shipped across the Middle Passage to the Americas and the Caribbean.
While acknowledging the resilience, creativity and cultural contributions of descendants of those who survived the brutal journey, she stressed the importance of confronting the painful history that shaped their experiences.
“Though the descendants of those who endured the Middle Passage have shown remarkable resilience and brilliance across generations, we must never erase the history that brought us to this point. We remain branches of the same ancestral tree, sharing a past that cannot be forgotten and a future that must be reclaimed together,” she added.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang traced Ghana’s longstanding engagement with the diaspora back to the vision of the nation’s first president, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, whose push for independence in 1957 was intended to inspire freedom and opportunity for Africans and people of African descent globally.
She underscored the vital role the diaspora continues to play in Africa’s development through remittances, investments, entrepreneurship and philanthropy, while emphasising that Ghana seeks a deeper, more identity-based relationship.
“We believe the relationship must be rooted in identity and a shared vision,” the Vice President said. “The government is strengthening diaspora engagement policies to transform historical connections into practical partnerships in investment, entrepreneurship, cultural exchange, education, innovation, tourism and national development.”
Addressing the newly naturalised citizens directly, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang urged them to embrace their Ghanaian nationality with full responsibility and commitment.
“Becoming citizens of Ghana means becoming active participants in our nation’s development and contributing to a future built on dignity, opportunity and shared prosperity,” she said.
The Vice President congratulated the new citizens, welcomed them “home” and reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to reconnecting the continent with its global diaspora while promoting unity among people of African descent worldwide.
