I received support from some NPP MPs during citizenship case - Gyakye Quayson

The Minister of Foreign Affairs-designate, James Gyakye Quayson, has spoken about the overwhelming support he received during his trial over dual citizenship.

According to him, despite having to go through such a difficult period in his life, he received support, even from some members of the Majority at the time, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who, he said, encouraged him.

He expressed his gratitude, noting that, even though it wasn’t the policy of his colleagues from the opposing side to reach out and support him, they still did.

Gyakye Quayson added that no one should ever be made to go through such an ordeal.

“I'm sure all of you are testimony to what I went through, just to be part of the system to try to pave a way for others to come. I know I have a lot of followers who are looking to see the success story. I want to thank every one of you here. I know there was tremendous support from the House, even my brothers and sisters on the other side, who will reach out to me personally to encourage me, even though wasn't a party policy.

“They came out in their own immense sense to come and give me encouragement. And these are some of the people that kept me going. And the more reason why I asked for us to bow or stand at least for a moment for our brother who has left us. You see, nobody should be going through such things,” he said during his vetting on Friday, July 25, 2025.

Gyakye Quayson further disclosed that his ordeal inspired the Dual Citizenship Amendment Bill which when passed, will allow Ghanaians in the diaspora with dual citizenship to hold public office.

He underscored the national benefits of such initiatives, emphasising that Ghana can tap into the power of its diaspora to drive development.

“I think about three years ago we tabled an amendment to the dual citizenship amendment bill. This is something that we have to take very important as a nation because we look at our GDP and remittances from the diaspora alone, it is one of the major contributors along with our gold and our cocoa,” he said.

He added, “Those are the three leading income GDP for the nation and to just look at that and not tap into the world, the knowledge, the experience, and add it to what we already have home, we will be doing ourselves a disservice. A lot of nations have recognized that, even the UK does that but here we are.”

MAG/MA

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