“Gyakye Quayson Law” Sparks London applause

Push for Full Diasporan Participation
President Mahama says his administration is pushing for full diasporan participation in Ghana’s political culture. A constitutional amendment is proposed to allow Ghanaians living abroad or holding dual passports to be eligible to contest in all elections or hold any political appointment.

Diaspora as the Seventeenth Region
President Mahama described the diasporan community as the seventeenth region in Ghana, calling it a “virtual region” for its great importance to the local economy. He said the nearly eight billion dollars in annual remittances is larger than the contributions of some regions in the physical landmass of the nation.

UK Visit and Diaspora Engagement
President Mahama is visiting the UK and the meeting with fellow citizens there was part of his official engagements. The “Gyakye Quayson law” reference won him wild applause in a London auditorium. Calling it a Gyakye Quayson law, the President noted the current deputy minister who was accused of dual nationality and nearly went to prison for that, made the argument for the full throttle of dual nationality in Ghanaian politics.