Educationist explains Ghanaian citizenship

A person born in or outside Ghana after coming into force of the Fourth Republican (1992) Constitution, shall become a citizen of Ghana if either of his parents or grandparents is or was a citizen of Ghana.

Similarly every person, who on the coming into force of the 1992 Constitution, is a citizen of Ghana by law shall continue to be a citizen of Ghana.

Mrs Agnes Kito, Awutu Senya District Guidance and Counselling Co-ordinator of Ghana Education Service, announced these at the celebration of Citizenship Day, organised by the National commission of Civic Education (NCCE) on the theme: “Stand Up for Ghana,” at Odukpong Kpehe Basic Schools at Kasoa.

Citizenship Day was instituted by the NCCE to replace Constitution Week, which was celebrated in early May every year to educate Ghanaians on the 1992 Constitution.

Mrs. Kito said a child of not more than seven years of age found in Ghana, whose parents were not known, shall be presumed to be a citizen of Ghana by birth.

She said Ghanaian citizenship could be acquired through adoption and naturalisation.

Mrs. Kito called on Ghanaians to be patriotic and protect and defend the 1992 Constitution against abuse.

She urged the youth to respect authority and protect government property and said: “You must respect the laws of Ghana and report people who would flout the law to the law enforcement agencies.

Mr. Andrews Ofori-Larbi, District NCCE Director, urged all school children to study the 1992 constitution to enable them to educate their relatives on the constitution.

He said the days when constitution was regarded as a preserve of lawyers and politicians was over and added “every citizen must get one and make it his second Bible or Koran.”**