Vice President Welcomes New Ghanaian Citizens at Oath Ceremony

Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to strengthening ties with Africans in the diaspora as she welcomed newly naturalized citizens during a swearing-in ceremony held earlier this evening.

The ceremony, which involved individuals taking the Oath of Allegiance to officially become Ghanaian citizens, was organized by the Diaspora Affairs Office at the Presidency in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior (Ghana).

The Diaspora Affairs Office operates under the leadership of Kofi Okyere Darko, while the Interior Ministry is headed by Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak.

Addressing the gathering, the Vice President described the event as a significant step in deepening Ghana’s relationship with the global African community. She noted that the ceremony reflects Ghana’s recognition of the diaspora as the country’s “17th Region,” emphasizing the importance of reconnecting Africans around the world with their ancestral homeland.

She welcomed the new citizens and assured them that Ghana remains a home for the global African family.

The Vice President also reflected on the painful history of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, which saw millions of Africans forcibly taken from the continent. She said this painful legacy remains preserved in historic sites such as the Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle.

According to her, while that chapter represents one of humanity’s greatest injustices, the citizenship ceremony symbolizes reconciliation, reconnection, and healing between Africa and its diaspora.

She added that the moment also reflects the vision of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, who championed African unity and the reconnection of the continent with its diaspora.

Vice President Opoku-Agyemang further commended the diaspora for their contributions to Ghana’s development, noting that government remains committed to strengthening diaspora engagement through comprehensive institutional frameworks.

“Our goal is to build a Ghana where Africans everywhere can reconnect with their roots and contribute meaningfully to national and continental progress,” she said.

She encouraged the newly sworn-in citizens to embrace their Ghanaian nationality with pride and responsibility, stressing that citizenship is not only a symbol of belonging but also a call to service.

The ceremony forms part of Ghana’s broader efforts to strengthen cultural, economic, and social ties with Africans and people of African descent across the world.