Ghana’s Ministry of the Interior and the Diaspora Affairs Office of the President have announced a temporary suspension of citizenship applications for historical diasporans, people of African descent seeking to reclaim Ghanaian nationality through heritage-based programmes.

The pause, effective from February 1, 2026, is part of a government effort to streamline and improve the application system, making it more efficient, accessible and user-friendly for prospective applicants around the globe.

Officials emphasise that this temporary halt is not a cancellation of the programme; rather, it provides time to refine procedures, update guidelines and introduce reforms that should result in a smoother process when applications resume.

Ghana’s government has reaffirmed its commitment to welcoming members of the global African family to “come home,” framing the suspension as a step toward better service for the diaspora community pursuing citizenship.

Interest in Ghanaian citizenship has grown in recent years under initiatives like the “Beyond the Return” and “Year of Return” campaigns, which celebrate heritage and promote deeper ties between Ghana and Africans abroad.

While applicants await revised timelines and official guidance on next steps, authorities stress that efforts to strengthen diaspora engagement and reconnect people of African descent with their ancestral roots remain a key national priority