ROPAA: An open letter to all Ghanaians living outside Ghana

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Kwobia (Toronto) 9 years ago

I agree.Some of these politicians in Ghana are total dummies.They know enough to know that the external votes could destroy their political ambitions.A case in point is the voters registration debate.How do you create a credi ...
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I agree.Some of these politicians in Ghana are total dummies.They know enough to know that the external votes could destroy their political ambitions.A case in point is the voters registration debate.How do you create a credible voters registry without a national ID card?Should the debate not be about make sure that every Ghanain has one?
Esi Atta 9 years ago

Mr. Eyiah, you are confusing the issues. Remittances are not the same as taxation. It's not obligatory for diasporians to remit family and friends back at home ( although one can make a connection between government's econom ...
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Mr. Eyiah, you are confusing the issues. Remittances are not the same as taxation. It's not obligatory for diasporians to remit family and friends back at home ( although one can make a connection between government's economic policies and impoverishment of the people). Take the remittances out of the argument and you are still making a powerful argument that we should be able to vote by the simple fact that we are Ghanaians.
KAE 9 years ago

Thanks, Esi,
The remittance bit was only a reference. Ghanaians whose contribution to the national economy dwarfs the taxes collected by the state must definitely have a say in how national leaders are elected!

Plus, a ve ...
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Thanks, Esi,
The remittance bit was only a reference. Ghanaians whose contribution to the national economy dwarfs the taxes collected by the state must definitely have a say in how national leaders are elected!

Plus, a very large proportion of our compatriots could not survive without those remittances.
eh 9 years ago

WHO IS STOPPING THEM FROM VOTING? COME TO GHANA REGISTER AND COME AGAIN TO VOTE. WE CAN NOT FUND YOUR VOTING ABROAD AT YOUR DOORSTEPS. ANYWAY WHO ARE THEY GOING TO VOTE FOR MP OR PREZ. WHAT DO THEY KNOW ABOUT THE ASPIRING MPs ...
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WHO IS STOPPING THEM FROM VOTING? COME TO GHANA REGISTER AND COME AGAIN TO VOTE. WE CAN NOT FUND YOUR VOTING ABROAD AT YOUR DOORSTEPS. ANYWAY WHO ARE THEY GOING TO VOTE FOR MP OR PREZ. WHAT DO THEY KNOW ABOUT THE ASPIRING MPs AND THE CONSTITUENCY THEY HAVE NOT LEAVED IN? REMITTANCE IS NOT INCOME TAX WHICH GOES TO THE GOVT. THE MONEY THEY SEND HOME DOES THE SAME AS OUR NET PAY WHICH WE USE TO PAY HEALTH, EDUCATION, FOOD, ACCOMMODATION FOR OUR FAMILIES ONLY WE HAVE NOT QUANTIFIED IT.FINALLY WHY SHOULD THEY VOTE TO CHANGE MY LIFE FOR THE NEXT 4YRS WHILST THEY LIVE COMFORTABLY OUT THERE.SORRY.
kaketonti 9 years ago

EXPLAIN THIS:ARE YOU TALKING OF NDC/NPP/PPP/CPP etc ROPAA/DIASPORA?.FOR ONE USELESS MAN,THAT'S WHERE GHANA IS TODAY WITH SELECTIVE/DISCRIMINATION ON GHANAIANS

EXPLAIN THIS:ARE YOU TALKING OF NDC/NPP/PPP/CPP etc ROPAA/DIASPORA?.FOR ONE USELESS MAN,THAT'S WHERE GHANA IS TODAY WITH SELECTIVE/DISCRIMINATION ON GHANAIANS
ADRO CHOPPER 9 years ago

Most of them are ADRO CHOPPERS!! There is no legal immigration path for Africans besides few intake cases in USA, Canada, the UK.Everything else is ADRO CHOPPING and MARRY. They claimed Government is about to arrest them-so t ...
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Most of them are ADRO CHOPPERS!! There is no legal immigration path for Africans besides few intake cases in USA, Canada, the UK.Everything else is ADRO CHOPPING and MARRY. They claimed Government is about to arrest them-so they disenfranchised themselves!!!
Bill 9 years ago

We don't want to vote. We just want feed our families in Ghana. Ok?

We don't want to vote. We just want feed our families in Ghana. Ok?
Oboadeenana; london 9 years ago

Dear Bill, are you trying to talk for yourself or the entire Ghanaians in the Diaspora? It is very sad when people fail to see sense in a simple and credible argument or fact. The author (Mr Eyiah), has laid bare salient poin ...
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Dear Bill, are you trying to talk for yourself or the entire Ghanaians in the Diaspora? It is very sad when people fail to see sense in a simple and credible argument or fact. The author (Mr Eyiah), has laid bare salient points and facts about the reason why we should have the chance to vote during elections. I totally agree with what he has said or put across as I have observed people from DCR voting in London as their embassy used to be near my place of work. I felt quite bitter and ashamed as a Ghanaian to be denied such a basic human right! Yet we profess to be more civilised and developed than our fellow Africans. the Question is, if some MPs find it expedient and constitutionally sound to bus people from neighbouring West African countries to come and register to vote, why and how could they vehemently oppose the registration of those of us in the diaspora to do likewise? if they say we do not pay taxes, can they too prove if those who are coming from Togo, Burkina Fasso or Cote D'Ivoire are paying taxes as well? This shows the Hipocracy on the part of the NDC with the support from the EC! Well done to Mr Eyiah and all should support and fight for a just cause!! Long Ghana and God Bless for common sense to prevail.
simple truth 9 years ago

THE MORE POSITIVE ACTION is STOP COMPLETELY ALL REMITTANCES SHOULD THE NDC BE VOTED IN FOR 2017.THEY HOLD THIS EVIL MENTALITY.

THE MORE POSITIVE ACTION is STOP COMPLETELY ALL REMITTANCES SHOULD THE NDC BE VOTED IN FOR 2017.THEY HOLD THIS EVIL MENTALITY.
Akwasi 9 years ago

You are just a horrible person. Don't worry. Stop remitting ur family and see if whichever party is in power will fail. The so called diasporans think that they contribute so much to the country's growth? May God be with us. ...
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You are just a horrible person. Don't worry. Stop remitting ur family and see if whichever party is in power will fail. The so called diasporans think that they contribute so much to the country's growth? May God be with us. Amen

Kpenyigba Kwesi 9 years ago

It is clear that the politicians are not interested in the implementation of ROPAA, so let not complain about it. EC should only allow ghanaians abroad to participate in voting as being done by Central and East African countr ...
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It is clear that the politicians are not interested in the implementation of ROPAA, so let not complain about it. EC should only allow ghanaians abroad to participate in voting as being done by Central and East African countries. ROPAA is expensive and complicated. Politicians give no damn to our remittances!!
Abeeku Mensah 9 years ago

Please tell me and your readers, Kwabina Ayiah, why we should not allow anyone who happens to be the source of Foreign Direct Investment to have a say in how Ghana is run or governed? After all there is far more foreign direc ...
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Please tell me and your readers, Kwabina Ayiah, why we should not allow anyone who happens to be the source of Foreign Direct Investment to have a say in how Ghana is run or governed? After all there is far more foreign direct investment capital kind than your pocket nickel and dime. You may want to ask yourself why all foreigners living in the 1001 places around the world who work, toil and pay taxes are not allowed to vote in their current country of residence.

What Ghana does not need this time or any other time is for people like you and most in the Diaspora who almost always are driven by money to expect the formulation of laws and system of governance for them while those laws become punitive for those of us who actually live in Ghana. Yes you would love to ship all your collection of discarded and discontinued haul into Ghana without paying any form of or minimal taxes but for profit even while you pay every tax expected of you where you live. Most in the Diaspora visit Ghana to spend their hard earned money just like all other tourists who visit our shores. We are not going to carve out exemptions for you just like the UK, Germany, US and many others do not carve out laws in the interest of their citizens living outside their walls.

If anything Ghana and most African nations should impose some of the stiffest taxes on good that have already lived past the useful life cycle but are shipped into Ghana and other nations for sale and use. Think about the fact that Ghana and others do not have the facilities to handle all the skeletal remains of junk including the poisonous leftovers from PC's and other electronic component and household items that harm our environment. Why do you think there are special permits required or at least higher disposal fees for hazardous items to be disposed off for those of you who live in developed industrialized nations?
Abeeku Mensah 9 years ago

Please tell me and your readers, Kwabina Ayiah, why we should not allow anyone who happens to be the source of Foreign Direct Investment to have a say in how Ghana is run or governed? After all there is far more foreign direc ...
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Please tell me and your readers, Kwabina Ayiah, why we should not allow anyone who happens to be the source of Foreign Direct Investment to have a say in how Ghana is run or governed? After all there is far more foreign direct investment capital kind than your pocket nickel and dime. You may want to ask yourself why all foreigners living in the 1001 places around the world who work, toil and pay taxes are not allowed to vote in their current country of residence.

What Ghana does not need this time or any other time is for people like you and most in the Diaspora who almost always are driven by money to expect the formulation of laws and system of governance for them while those laws become punitive for those of us who actually live in Ghana. Yes you would love to ship all your collection of discarded and discontinued haul into Ghana without paying any form of or minimal taxes but for profit even while you pay every tax expected of you where you live. Most in the Diaspora visit Ghana to spend their hard earned money just like all other tourists who visit our shores. We are not going to carve out exemptions for you just like the UK, Germany, US and many others do not carve out laws in the interest of their citizens living outside their walls.

If anything Ghana and most African nations should impose some of the stiffest taxes on good that have already lived past the useful life cycle but are shipped into Ghana and other nations for sale and use. Think about the fact that Ghana and others do not have the facilities to handle all the skeletal remains of junk including the poisonous leftovers from PC's and other electronic component and household items that harm our environment. Why do you think there are special permits required or at least higher disposal fees for hazardous items to be disposed off for those of you who live in developed industrialized nations?
Esi Atta 9 years ago

I'm not sure you read Mr. Eyiah's article with an open mind. He didn't ask for any new laws. The provision is already in place; all that is left is implementation. You may do well to find another space to address the shipment ...
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I'm not sure you read Mr. Eyiah's article with an open mind. He didn't ask for any new laws. The provision is already in place; all that is left is implementation. You may do well to find another space to address the shipment of hazardous products to Ghana. Right, right here, on this forum, we are talking about the diasporan vote. Got a problem with that?
KAE 9 years ago

Abowa fun! After all these years hiding in the ghettoes of America, you can't even read simple English and understand. Pity the woman who had to throw up every morning for nine months, to give birth to such a waste of space.
...
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Abowa fun! After all these years hiding in the ghettoes of America, you can't even read simple English and understand. Pity the woman who had to throw up every morning for nine months, to give birth to such a waste of space.

You have demonstrated that you are even using a stolen name because no Abeeku will write Kwabena for Kobena. Just pray that the American authorities never get to your hell hole!
Joshua 9 years ago

Dear Eyiah, You pays whose school fees? Gone are the days when some lazy Ghanaians rely on remittances from abroad from their relatives.My brother we are in this country bearing the cost of everything that we buy. so please t ...
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Dear Eyiah, You pays whose school fees? Gone are the days when some lazy Ghanaians rely on remittances from abroad from their relatives.My brother we are in this country bearing the cost of everything that we buy. so please that mentality is archaic. Those who want to vote should come to Ghana period!
KAE 9 years ago

You are obviously part of the fan fool club! With your type of written English, you can only work on Ghana@59!

You are obviously part of the fan fool club! With your type of written English, you can only work on Ghana@59!
Salifu shiraz 9 years ago

You admitted it received parliamentary approval in 2007, why didn't the government of the time implement it in the 2008 election? Your politicisation of the matter is the reason why nobody will take you serious.

You admitted it received parliamentary approval in 2007, why didn't the government of the time implement it in the 2008 election? Your politicisation of the matter is the reason why nobody will take you serious.
KING LOMOTEY 9 years ago

Minuah Kobina Eyiah, your article is obviously anti-NDC; you are assuming that ROPAA is not in favor of this legislation, but you are not exactly correct. Although there are many NDC supporters in the world who daily send re ...
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Minuah Kobina Eyiah, your article is obviously anti-NDC; you are assuming that ROPAA is not in favor of this legislation, but you are not exactly correct. Although there are many NDC supporters in the world who daily send remittances to Ghana, irrespective of ROPAA. There are many Ghanaians, belonging to many of the political parties, who are itching to come home and register to vote in this November elections. Voters from Australia, Burkina Faso, Canada, Denmark, Egypt to Jamaica, South Africa, Togo, & Zambia ready to elect our president. And this has nothing to do with ROPAA. Please leave NDC alone and let thinking Ghanaians selection their choice in the forthcoming elections.
Martin 9 years ago

The government neither taxes any income earned by Ghanaians abroad, nor does it tax remittance from abroad. Therefore, it is disingenuous by the proponents of ROPAA to use taxation without representative as earning their righ ...
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The government neither taxes any income earned by Ghanaians abroad, nor does it tax remittance from abroad. Therefore, it is disingenuous by the proponents of ROPAA to use taxation without representative as earning their rights to vote in elections. The country does not have the necessary funds to ensure its citizens in far-flung overseas places participate in the electoral process. Nothing prevents those Ghanaians abroad from going back to the country to vote if they feel they are being disenfranchised.

KAE 9 years ago

Wow, is our country in trouble! Even the elite, the people who are able to surf the worldwide net cannot read simple write-ups in English and understand.

When a Ghanaian working in Sweden or wherever has to send a portion ...
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Wow, is our country in trouble! Even the elite, the people who are able to surf the worldwide net cannot read simple write-ups in English and understand.

When a Ghanaian working in Sweden or wherever has to send a portion of his remuneration home to feed family and that money is used to buy things in Ghana, what do you think he is doing?

When my business in Accra is taxed by the state, what do you think I am doing? And that are thousands og Ghanaians like that.

The quest for voting rights by Ghanaians living outside Ghana has nothing to do with NDC, NPP or any party for that matter. It is a right just as Ghanaians who live in Ghana and pay absolutely no taxes to the state have the right to vote.

It should not cost any extra money, if we are thinking outside the box as a nation. Except that there seems to be very little thinking in our country these days, just stealing from state coffers.

The EC will only have to use the embassies, high commissions and consulates, just as many banana republics do around the world, unless of course Ghana has now fallen below the level of even a banana republic, as nearly every happening in our motherland these days seems to point to that direction!
Kwame Addo 9 years ago

What about ex-president Kufuor & his family members dodging paying taxes by investing in offshore tax havens as alleged in Panama Papers? Some Ghanaians have dodged paying their fair share of taxes, and that is ungodly.

What about ex-president Kufuor & his family members dodging paying taxes by investing in offshore tax havens as alleged in Panama Papers? Some Ghanaians have dodged paying their fair share of taxes, and that is ungodly.
James 9 years ago

Taking the UK as an example, does the Commission know the number of Ghana passport holders. It will have to get people to register. How does it contact them?
We don't all live in London. Even if we did we cannot all go to th ...
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Taking the UK as an example, does the Commission know the number of Ghana passport holders. It will have to get people to register. How does it contact them?
We don't all live in London. Even if we did we cannot all go to the High Commission. It will have to be Electronic Voting. And there could be problems here too. Voting for a President is simple but which MP? It will cost a lot of money to arrange this. Multiply these problems by all the countries with Ghana nationals and you begin to appreciate the logistical nightmare. For me at this stage of a development finding solutions to our appalling sanitation in Ghana is a more pressing need
There you go 9 years ago

British expats lose legal battle for right to vote in EU referendum
Court challenge brought by 94-year-old second world war veteran living in Italy and lawyer resident in Belgium fails

British expats lose legal battle for right to vote in EU referendum
Court challenge brought by 94-year-old second world war veteran living in Italy and lawyer resident in Belgium fails

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ROPAA: An open letter to all Ghanaians living outside Ghana

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