Ghana: Repeal the provisions on dual allegiance and office-holding exclusions

Published: 10/Jul/2015
Source: Ghana Web

By S. Kwaku Asare

Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings has recently questioned the nationality of the newly-appointed chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC). Her allegation comes on the backdrop of recent intense speculations that the chairperson is a Nigerian by birth. Ms. Charlotte Kesson Smith herself reports that she was born at Nnewi, Nigeria in the Martindale-Hubbel International Law Directory. In my opinion, even if she is a Nigerian by birth, that should not disqualify her from holding the office of the chairperson of the EC as long as she is also a Ghanaian, ergo a dual citizen.

But assuming that she is a dual citizen, and not a foreigner as alleged by the former first lady, raises another important question: Why did this nation send Adamu Sakande Daramani, a dual citizen, to jail and compel other dual citizens to renounce their other citizenships before they can even compete in the primaries of some of the political parties?

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Themes: Dual Nationality
Regions: West Africa, Ghana
Year: 2015