Citizenship bill yet to receive Presidential assent

Several months after its passage by Parliament, the Citizenship Bill cannot be signed into law by the President because it could not satisfy all the necessary requirements of the constitution.

The bill, which seeks to consolidate the laws on citizenship of Ghana, attracted one of the largest group of lobbyists, scrutiny and interest of members this year.

Mr. Alban Bagbin, Chairman of the Parliamentary, Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, told the house that the constitutional lapse arose from the fact that Article Seven of the constitution that is supposed to be amended by Section Ten of the bill has not been effected.

He explained that a pack of constitutional amendment proposals that was rejected by the house early this year had sought to amend the said clause, saying the committee had anticipated the reversal that why it did not draw the house's attention to it.

The clause spells out how one can become a citizen of Ghana by registration. Aggrieved members called on the President to return the bill with his comments to the house as the laws and conventions of the country demand.

Squadron Leader Clend Sowu (rtd), NDC-Anlo, said many expectant persons will be much disappointed after giving of their best to see to the packaging of the bill.

The member, who is married to an unnatural Ghanaian, could not hide his personal anxieties as he quizzed 'what am I going to tell those whom I have educated so much about this bill?"

Mr.Kobina Fosu,NDCAsikuma/Odoben/Brakwa, called for a swift response to the concerns of members.

Mr. Kenneth Dzirasah, First Deputy Speaker, who was in the chair, directed the Business and Parliamentary, Constitutional and Legal Committees to look at the issue.