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Tag: citizenship

  • Over 500 African diasporas granted Ghanaian citizenship

    Over 500 African diasporas granted Ghanaian citizenship

    President Nana Akufo-Addo has granted Ghanaian citizenship to 524 members of the African diaspora in a historic ceremony, urging them to unite and contribute to the nation’s development.

    The event forms part of the Beyond the Return programme, initiated in 2019 to commemorate 400 years since the first African was forcibly taken to America. The initiative seeks to reconnect Ghana with its shared heritage and foster stronger engagement with the African diaspora.

    https://twitter.com/Joe__Bassey/status/1859316821230325789

    Addressing the new citizens, President Akufo-Addo stressed the importance of unity, tolerance, and shared goals. He encouraged them to use their experiences and expertise to aid Ghana’s progress, fulfilling a vision he first articulated in Washington DC in 2018.

    The Minister for the Interior, Henry Quartey, also congratulated the recipients, advising them to respect the country’s laws and uphold the 1992 Constitution.

    This move represents a significant milestone in reuniting Africans on the continent with their diaspora counterparts, strengthening bonds of heritage and identity.

    https://twitter.com/utvghana/status/1859505495494525274

  • Individuals with dual citizenship can become Chief Justice, Chief Directors – Supreme Court

    Individuals with dual citizenship can become Chief Justice, Chief Directors – Supreme Court

    The Supreme Court in a landmark decision has struck down key provisions of the Citizenship Act, 2000 (ACT 581), prohibiting dual citizens from holding top government positions.

    The ruling, with a decisive 6-1 majority, deems these restrictions unconstitutional, citing conflict with Article 289(2) of the 1992 Constitution.

    The invalidated sections of the Citizenship Act, specifically 16(2)(a) and 16(2)(h)-(l), had barred individuals with dual citizenship from roles such as Chief Justice, Commissioner of the Value Added Tax Service, Director-General of the Prisons Service, Chief Fire Officer, Chief Director of a Ministry, or holding the rank of Colonel in the army or other security services.

    The case, titled ‘Francis Osei-Bonsu v The Attorney General,’ brought to light the argument that these sections effectively amended the constitution, violating Article 289(2).

    The plaintiff, represented by Bright Okyere-Adjekum Esq., successfully contended that such restrictions infringed upon the fundamental principles outlined in the constitution.

    With this ruling, individuals with dual citizenship are now eligible for these significant government positions, marking a significant shift in Ghanaian law and governance.

    The effect of the decision is that persons who are dual citizens contrary to the dictates of section 16 of the Citizenship Act can now be appointed to positions or offices.

    They  include;

    1. Chief Justice,

    2. Commissioner of the Value Added Tax Service;

    3. Director-General of the Prisons Service the Chief Fire Officer,

    4. a Chief Director of a Ministry the rank of a Colonel in the Army or its equivalent in the other security services.

  • “I wanna get citizenship in Ghana” – Meek Mill

    “I wanna get citizenship in Ghana” – Meek Mill

    American rapper Robert Rihmeek Williams, popularly known as Meek Mill, says he is considering acquiring Ghanaian citizenship.

    The rapper faced criticism in the previous year for filming a music video inside Ghana’s presidential palace.

    Through a post on X (formerly Twitter), Meek Mill voiced discontentment with his current living situation in the United States.

    The rapper wrote; “I wanna get citizenship in Ghana!!!! America made to tear black men down if you don’t follow orders!”


    This isn’t the initial occasion the rapper has mentioned Ghana since his initial visit in 2023. During a question and answer session on X in October 2023, Meek Mill revealed his intention to revisit Ghana.

    Although he didn’t specify a precise date, Meek Mill pledged to sign an artist from Ghana during his upcoming trip.

    His initial visit stirred controversy when he filmed a music video at the Jubilee House, drawing criticism from Ghanaians.

    Accusations of “desecrating” the Jubilee House surfaced, with MPs voicing concerns about potential security risks.

    In a statement, Mill said he would “take responsibility for my mistake. To the people of Ghana, no video I drop is ever meant to disrespect the people of Ghana,” he wrote.

    “The fastest way to make connection is thru music [sic] and I wanted to do that with displaying art. I’m in my 30s from America and didn’t know much about the lifestyle.”

    He added that officials for Ghana’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo, may not have been aware he was shooting a music video, saying the set-up had been “a small camera and a kid”.

    Meanwhile, this development follows social media speculation suggesting that he might be one of the unnamed musicians reportedly involved in sexual relations with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.

    These allegations emerged in a lawsuit against the American music mogul, accusing him of sexual assault and sex trafficking.

    However, the artist’s identity remains undisclosed in the publicly available documents, and he has not been directly accused of any wrongdoing in the lawsuit filed by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones.

  • Malagasy leader to run for re-election despite a citizenship dispute

    Malagasy leader to run for re-election despite a citizenship dispute

    Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina has declared his intention to run for re-election in November, despite facing a campaign to disqualify him from the presidential race.

    In June of this year, leaked documents revealed that Mr. Rajoelina, along with his wife and children, had obtained French citizenship in 2014. Since this revelation, some Malagasy leaders and citizens have raised concerns about his transparency and loyalty to Madagascar, a former French colony that gained independence in 1960.

    Critics argue that Madagascar’s laws do not permit dual citizenship, and individuals who acquire foreign citizenship automatically forfeit their Malagasy citizenship, rendering them ineligible to run for the presidency.

    However, Mr. Rajoelina, who won the election in late 2018, disputes this interpretation, asserting that the constitution does not explicitly prohibit individuals with dual citizenship from seeking the presidency.

    The upcoming elections, scheduled for November 9 on the Indian Ocean island, will feature over 20 candidates vying for the presidency.

  • Russian citizenship granted to Edward Snowden

    A former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, who exposed vast US surveillance programmes, has been awarded Russian citizenship.

    The decree was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday.

    Mr Snowden, 39, has been living in exile in Russia since exposing the National Security Agency (NSA) programme affecting millions of Americans in 2013.

    Mr Snowden, who faces espionage charges in the US, has made no public comments.

    In 2020, the NSA surveillance of millions of Americans’ telephone records was ruled unlawful by the US Court of Appeals.

    Mr Snowden said afterward that he felt vindicated by the ruling.

    Top US intelligence officials had publicly insisted the NSA had never knowingly collected data from private phone records until Mr Snowden exposed evidence to the contrary.

    Following the revelation, officials said the NSA’s surveillance program had played a crucial role in fighting domestic terrorism, including the convictions of Basaaly Saeed Moalin, Ahmed Nasir Taalil Mohamud, Mohamed Mohamud, and Issa Doreh, of San Diego, for providing aid to al-Shabab militants in Somalia.