With the passing of the Representation of the People Amendment Act (ACT 699) popularly known as ROPAA on February 23, 2006, Ghanaians living abroad heaved a sigh of relief. Their thinking was that after much agitation and struggle, they now have the legal and constitutionally-mandated right to vote in elections and referenda in Ghana as well as participate fully in the political life of the Land of their Birth. This right, we all know and believe, is long overdue since the government in Ghana itself admits and proclaims loudly how overseas-resident Ghanaians are the ones who are propping up and sustaining the country's economy with their massive infusion of capital and other goods and projects.
These high expectations have been dashed. A careful reading of the ROPAA (ACT 699) and the Dual Citizenship Act (ACT 591) however reveal that the road to meaningful participation in the political life of Ghana for its overseas residents is not that smooth. Section 16 (2) of the Dual Citizenship Act and Article 94 (2) of the 1992 4th Republican Constitution specifically bar overseas-resident Ghanaians (even those with dual citizenship) from holding a long list of senior level positions in government or even seek to contest public elections in Ghana.The situation became clear soon after the passage of ROPAA when the Parliamentary Appointments Committee disqualified Mr. Akwasi Agyeman Prempeh from becoming the Deputy Regional Minister for Ashanti Region because he holds dual Ghanaian and American citizenships. The Act lists the positions of Members of Parliament, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Police and Military Officers above the rank of Chief Superintendent and Colonel respectively, Director of Prisons and a host of others which Ghanaians with dual citizenship status cannot hold.
The provisions of these Acts and their implementation clearly make overseas-resident Ghanaians second class citizens of Ghana who have no rights. They are only expected to pump monies, goods and services to prop up the Ghanaian economy and shut up. This situation is untenable and totally unacceptable. The Diaspora Vote Committee (DVC), a voluntary group of Ghanaians living abroad that spearheaded the fight to get ROPAA (ACT 699) passed, has decided to go to the Ghanaian Supreme Court to seek a legal interpretation of these ACTS. The DVC believes that the Supreme Court is the only option left because there is no political will in Parliament to correct this anomaly. This is the only course of action left and we urge all overseas-resident Ghanaians to support this fight once it starts. It is our rights that are being trampled upon by our compatriots at home who only see us as cash cows who do not deserve any rights. This is an affront and we all need to follow these developments closely and support the legal actions when they start. This is what democracy is supposed to be about: the rule of law! We commend the DVC for its stand and wish it God's speed in the fight for justice and equal rights.
With the passing of the Representation of the People Amendment Act (ACT 699) popularly known as ROPAA on February 23, 2006, Ghanaians living abroad heaved a sigh of relief. Their thinking was that after much agitation and struggle, they now have the legal and constitutionally-mandated right to vote in elections and referenda in Ghana as well as participate fully in the political life of the Land of their Birth. This right, we all know and believe, is long overdue since the government in Ghana itself admits and proclaims loudly how overseas-resident Ghanaians are the ones who are propping up and sustaining the country's economy with their massive infusion of capital and other goods and projects.
These high expectations have been dashed. A careful reading of the ROPAA (ACT 699) and the Dual Citizenship Act (ACT 591) however reveal that the road to meaningful participation in the political life of Ghana for its overseas residents is not that smooth. Section 16 (2) of the Dual Citizenship Act and Article 94 (2) of the 1992 4th Republican Constitution specifically bar overseas-resident Ghanaians (even those with dual citizenship) from holding a long list of senior level positions in government or even seek to contest public elections in Ghana.The situation became clear soon after the passage of ROPAA when the Parliamentary Appointments Committee disqualified Mr. Akwasi Agyeman Prempeh from becoming the Deputy Regional Minister for Ashanti Region because he holds dual Ghanaian and American citizenships. The Act lists the positions of Members of Parliament, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Police and Military Officers above the rank of Chief Superintendent and Colonel respectively, Director of Prisons and a host of others which Ghanaians with dual citizenship status cannot hold.
The provisions of these Acts and their implementation clearly make overseas-resident Ghanaians second class citizens of Ghana who have no rights. They are only expected to pump monies, goods and services to prop up the Ghanaian economy and shut up. This situation is untenable and totally unacceptable. The Diaspora Vote Committee (DVC), a voluntary group of Ghanaians living abroad that spearheaded the fight to get ROPAA (ACT 699) passed, has decided to go to the Ghanaian Supreme Court to seek a legal interpretation of these ACTS. The DVC believes that the Supreme Court is the only option left because there is no political will in Parliament to correct this anomaly. This is the only course of action left and we urge all overseas-resident Ghanaians to support this fight once it starts. It is our rights that are being trampled upon by our compatriots at home who only see us as cash cows who do not deserve any rights. This is an affront and we all need to follow these developments closely and support the legal actions when they start. This is what democracy is supposed to be about: the rule of law! We commend the DVC for its stand and wish it God's speed in the fight for justice and equal rights.
