A grandson of the renowned Pan – Africanist, Dr W. E. B. Du Bois, The Reverend Doctor Joseph Du Bois has commended President John Agyekum Kufuor for making it possible for Africans of Ghanaian parentage to benefit from Ghana's dual Citizens' Act.
Rev Dr Du Bois, who is the founder of Joseph Organisation Systems and Economic Plans for Humanity (JOSEPH), said he is delighted to be a Ghanaian after so many years of research into his ancestry. He said, “there is no place like home, especially here in Ghana after tracing our roots and getting to know that our grandfathers also played an important role in Ghana's political development”.
Dr W. E. B Du Bois is well remembered for the part he played with enormous zeal in the emancipation of the black race. The Du Bois Centre in Accra is a fitting tribute to the memory of a great Pan-Africanist, whose life and work had a lot of influence on many African writers.
Rev Dr Du Bois, whose visit to the country coincided with the launch of Ma Afrika Contest 2002, said in a typical American slang: "The President is right on time and we are also right here on time. The President has opened doors to other nationals, who can become citizens and who can help build Ghana."
Apostle Izell Crump of the Christian Temple Faith Church in Baltimore, USA, also had this to say when asked about how he felt about the institution of dual citizenship: "My wife and I are extremely happy to be citizens after working in Edumfa in The Central Region bringing humanitarian relief of the people for the past six years". His wife, the Reverend Elaine S. Crump said: "We are happy to be in the forefront of dual citizenship."
The Crumps have also constructed a 16 kilometre-feeder road for the people of the area. The African Americans said they are in Africa to fulfil the charge given to them by W. E. B Du Bois that "I charge you. As you live, believe in life. Human beings will live and progress to greater, broader and fuller life. The only possible death is to lose belief in this truth, simply because the great end comes slowly as time is long."
