Ghanaians should actively participate in constitutional review process-lawyer

December 06, 2010
Accra, Dec. 6, GNA - Dr. Agyenim Boateng, Former Assistant Deputy Attorney General of State of Kentucky in the US on Monday called on Ghanaians to participate in the constitutional review process especially with regard to laws concerning citizenship.

He said the 1992 Constitution had several contradictions and inconsistencies which previous governments had failed to redress adding, "Ghana's constitution is the bedrock of her democracy therefore, all citizens must make contributions towards its structure".

Dr. Boateng made the call at a press conference in Accra on the proposed repeal of constitutional provisions that discriminate against Ghanaians in the Diaspora.

He stated that the constitution did not adequately define who a Ghanaian citizen was and what were the rights and privileges pertaining to the said citizenship.

"All that the constitution did in Chapter Three was to lump all natural born citizens together with naturalised and registered citizens and pontificated that every citizen who takes on the citizenship of another country immediately forthwith ceases to be a citizen of Ghana", he added.

Dr. Boateng said although the Citizenship Act 591 passed in 2000 and enacted in 2001, created dual citizenship and recognised Ghanaians abroad as dual citizens, it still relied heavily on the constitutional prohibition of Article 94(2) which barred such citizens from being appointed into 14 positions in the country's public service.

He announced that he had presented a draft bill and paper to the Constitutional Review Commission, which had acknowledged receipt.

Dr Boateng said Ghanaians in the Diaspora who want to help the country must be allowed because Ghana needed people who could offer new ideas and skills.

GNA