Grant amnesty to Ghanaians in the UK – Dr Lawrence Tetteh

Dr Lawrence Tetteh, the Chaplain of the Ghana Christian Council of United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland, Monday appealed to the Prince of Wales and Head of the Commonwealth, to use his high office to push for the regularisation of the stay of the law-abiding Ghanaians in the UK.

This, the President of the Worldwide Miracle Outreach said, would enable them to work in peace and pay the requisite taxes and levies to the Government to support the growth of the British economy and cement the solidarity within the Commonwealth Community.

Currently, he said, there were more than 250,000 Ghanaians resident in the UK; with many of them lacking the resident permits to work.

The world renowned evangelist recalled that the last time such an amnesty was granted was during the tenure Prime Minister Tony Blair; and expressed disappointment that since then the gesture had not been extended.

“Some Ghanaians have lived in the UK for more than 15 years without resident permits but they are peaceful and hardworking, which are very good attributes for nation building,” he said.

“With the advent of Brexit, we think this is an opportune time for another amnesty and we are hopeful the Head of the Commonwealth can drive this successfully.”

Dr Tetteh, who also an Honorary Canon of the Anglican Church, made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, in Accra, at the sideline of a public lecture, addressed by Prince Charles, at the Accra International Conference Centre.

“We’re fortunate that some of us who have lived in the UK for many years have permanent resident permits or citizenship; but we need to fight for those who don’t have regular status because they are all playing their roles in diverse ways towards the growth of the British economy and a peaceful society,” he said.

“With the current trend of our democracy, it would be very helpful if we’re able to encourage them with an amnesty so that they would even give more of themselves,” he emphasised.

He testified that Ghanaians who lived in the UK, especially within the Black Community, had shown exemplary life styles and shunned criminal activities, saying the speech delivered by Prince Charles at the public lecture, buttressed his point.

He applauded the Prince of Wales for his elevation to the Head of the Commonwealth, describing the feat ‘as historic’, especially coinciding with his 70th Birthday.

The Prince of Wales and his wife Camilla arrived in Ghana on Friday, November 2, for a four-day Royal visit, which is intended to strengthen the bilateral ties between the UK and Ghana.

The Royal couple paid a courtesy call on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House, the Seat of Government, and conferred with Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace, where a durbar was organised in his honour at the weekend.

The Prince also visited Jamestown, Osu Castle, the Kejetia Market and a cocoa farm in the Ashanti Region.

The Royal couple have already visited the Gambia and are expected to take their final leg of a week-long visit to West Africa, to Nigeria on Tuesday, November 6.