The framework of citizenship law in Ghana has been amended several times, and is currently set forth in chapter III of the 1992 Constitution and the Citizenship Act 2000. The constitution provides that a person born after it entered into force, whether inside or outside Ghana “shall become a citizen of Ghana at the date of his birth if either of his parents or grandparents is or was citizen of Ghana.” It also provides for a presumption of citizenship in favour of children of unknown parents. Ghana has allowed dual citizenship since amendments to the constitution in 1996.
In 2015, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child welcomed substantial improvements in the area of birth registration, but called for strengthened efforts to ensure all children are registered. The Committee also recommended that Ghana strengthen the protections against statelessness in its national laws. In 2019, Ghana pledged to accede to the two statelessness conventions and to identify groups at risk of statelessness in Ghana.
A large number of refugees from Liberia fled into Ghana during Liberia’s long civil war, which led to a protracted refugee situation of Liberian refugees in Ghana, sparking discussion of whether or not refugees should be allowed to naturalize.
Extracts relevant to Africa: Mobilizing governments and civil society On 14 February, in Kenya, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) in collaboration with Haki Centre Organization, Kwale Human Rights Network and UNHCR, organized a meeting in Kwale County, between Members […]
By Stephen Kwaku Asare, Professor Article 94(2)(a) provides that a person is not qualified to be a member of Parliament if he owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana. This article did not and could not have aimed at […]
By Tawanda Karombo Ghana has moved to integrate telecommunications, banking, and mobile money platforms under the Ghana Card—a biometric means of personal identity—which will now be a prerequisite for all financial transactions starting July 1. In a move that mirrors […]
The government decision to introduce the African Home Return Bill in Parliament was meant to integrate Diasporas and African heritage descents coming to Ghana, the Deputy Minister of Tourism Arts and Culture, Mr Okraku Mantey has explained. He said the […]
Oduro-Marfo, S., & Falconer, T. A. (2021). Digital Identity in Ghana: Case study conducted as part of a ten-country exploration of socio-digital ID systems in parts of Africa (Towards the Evaluation of Digital ID Ecosystems in Africa: Findings from Ten […]
Research ICT Africa and the Centre for Internet and Society (Delhi, India) partnered in 2021 to examine the design, development, governance, and implementation of evolving socio-digital identity ecosystems in ten African countries. (We explained the background to and reasons for […]
Member of Parliament for Akim Swedru, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, has presented the Citizenship Amendment Bill to Parliament. He presented it on the floor of the house on Thursday, October 28, 2021, The bill, if passed, will amend the constitution to […]
Two American siblings who survived a well documented massacre of Black people in the US city of Tulsa in Oklahoma have rounded up a visit to Ghana by accepting to be citizens of Ghana. 107-year-old Viola Fletcher and her brother, […]
(SUIT NO. J1/9/2020) [2020] GHASC 25 (25 June 2020) Introduction On 25th June 2020, we gave judgment in these consolidated suits but deferred our reasons, which we now give. Rights enforceable by the plaintiffs. The antecedent facts of the case […]
Law activist and academician, Prof Stephen Kwaku Asare aka Kwaku Azar has once again penned a position challenging the explanation given by some individuals on the position of the law on dual citizenship. The outspoken lawyer in his article explained […]
MP-elect for Nsuta-Kwamang-Beposo has fought off claims that she holds dual citizenship despite contesting and winning the parliamentary seat for the constituency. Adelaide Yaa Agyeiwaa Ntim has revealed that she renounced her American citizenship months to the elections. “I heard that […]
Biometric ID systems are proliferating across Africa but without the appropriate protections for citizens, say activists. By Madeleine Speed In January this year, Kenya’s High Court halted the roll-out of the country’s controversial biometric ID, the Huduma Namba, citing the […]