Dual citizenship is a status long recognized in the law and that a person may have and exercise rights of nationality in two countries and be subject to the responsibilities of both. Indeed, for many years after independence, Ghanaians were also British and Commonwealth citizens.
Even though Ghana still recognizes dual citizenship, they are not treated as full citizens and are excluded from holding many public positions.
These positions are:
- President
- Vice President
- Ministers of State
- Deputy Minister of State
- Cabinet Member
- Speaker of Parliament
- Member of Parliament
- Member of Electoral Commission
- Member of the Public Service Commission
- Members of the National Commission for Civic Education
- Member of Lands Commission
- Member of Regional Lands Commission
- Founding Member of a Political Party 14. Executive Member of a Political Party 15. Leader of a Political Party
- Ambassador or High Commissioner
- Secretary to the Cabinet
- Chief of Defense Staff or any Service Chief
- Inspector General of Police
- Commissioner, Customs, Excise and Preventive Service
- Director of Immigration Service
- Chief Justice
- Justice of the Supreme Court
- Commissioner, Value Added Tax Service;
- Director-General, Prisons Service;
- Chief Fire Officer;
- Chief Director of a Ministry;
- the rank of a Colonel in the Army or its
equivalent in the other security services; - Special Prosecutor
- Any office specified by an Act of Parliament.
Thus, while it is legal to hold dual citizenship, the holder is penalized for that which is legal and barred from holding office in the legislature, executive or the apex court. For Tigare’s sake, they are not allowed to even extinguish fire.
Why all these exclusions for a country that boasts of the “Year of Return.”
What we have now is not dual citizenship. It is fractional citizenship.
The aim of DCRPS is to use pressure, whether in the form of economics, law, politics, etc. to attain equal rights for all citizens.
Dual citizens are not entitled to hold any positions but they must be entitled to be considered for all positions. It must be left to voters and the appointees to decide whether or not they want to elect or appoint them.
DCRPS calls on all dual citizens and all fair minded Ghanaians to come together this political season to send a clear message to our politicians.
Either we are Ghanaians or we are not Ghanaians!
Motromojo won’t do.
128/1820 is a bona fide scam and sham.
Da Yie!
By Kwaku Azar