|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Government of Ghana has conferred citizenship on more than 100 individuals from the African diaspora during a ceremony held in Accra on Monday, March 9, 2026.
The new citizens took the oath of allegiance as part of Ghana’s ongoing efforts to reconnect with people of African descent around the world and strengthen cultural, historical and economic ties with the diaspora.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice President, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, said the event represents more than a formal legal process. She described it as a symbolic moment of reconnection, healing and restoration between Ghana and the descendants of Africans who were displaced during the transatlantic slave trade.
She noted that the government, led by President John Dramani Mahama, is actively pursuing international recognition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade as one of the greatest crimes against humanity through advocacy at the United Nations.
The Vice President also referenced historic sites such as Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle, which served as holding points for countless Africans who were taken from the continent and forced through the Middle Passage to the Americas and the Caribbean.
According to her, the descendants of those who endured the journey remain connected as part of the same ancestral lineage, sharing a history that continues to shape their identity and future.
She further highlighted Ghana’s longstanding relationship with the diaspora, tracing its roots to the vision of the country’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah. She explained that Ghana’s independence in 1957 was meant not only to serve the nation but also to inspire freedom and opportunity for Africans and people of African descent globally.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang acknowledged the important role the diaspora plays in Africa’s development through remittances, investments, entrepreneurship and philanthropy, but stressed that Ghana aims to deepen this relationship beyond economic contributions.
She explained that the government is strengthening policies to enhance diaspora engagement by promoting investment opportunities, supporting entrepreneurship, expanding cultural exchanges and encouraging diaspora participation in education, tourism, innovation and national development.
The Vice President encouraged the newly sworn-in citizens to embrace their new nationality with responsibility and to actively contribute to Ghana’s development and future prosperity.
She congratulated them and welcomed them home, describing the ceremony as part of Ghana’s broader commitment to reconnect Africa with its global diaspora and foster unity among people of African descent.
Source: 3news
