Member of Parliament for Afram Plains South, Hon. Joseph Appiah Boateng, is supporting calls for Ghana to review its law barring dual citizens from holding certain public offices, saying “that paper thing shouldn’t block Ghanaians from working” for their country.
Speaking in an interview, the MP who has lived and worked abroad said many countries already separate citizenship status from competence.
He cited Australia, where forms ask whether one is a “citizen by birth or citizen by grant,” but qualified persons are still allowed to serve.
“Even in Australia when you are filling up a form they ask you. Are you a citizen? Is it citizen by birth or citizen by grant? Just answer that question,” he said.
Mr. Boateng argued that Ghana is losing out on talent by making citizenship renunciation a condition for appointment.
“I know some citizens Ghanaian born who are in Australia and working for the government… So if you want to make it so tight that you have to denounce your citizenship before you can work at maybe at seventy-one level position. That means we are squeezing people,” he stated.
The Afram Plains South MP said he returned home specifically to contribute, and paperwork should not be used to shut out willing Ghanaians.
“Now that I’m back in the country I’m here to serve my country. So that paper thing shouldn’t stuck anyone between hard and work that oh you shouldn’t be this you shouldn’t be that,” he said.
He acknowledged the current constitutional restriction but urged a national conversation on it.
“But once our constitution said you can’t be we have to all accept it… But this is a public discuss. All of us have to share ideas together but if you ask me my opinion it shouldn’t be a problem if you are US citizen. Ghanaian born US citizen. That shouldn’t stop you from serving your nation,” he said.
Sharing his personal experience, Mr. Boateng said he first entered Australia as a tourist, later secured a 4-year work visa which he renewed, but never took citizenship. He noted that in Australia, permanent residents enjoy nearly the same benefits as citizens, and one can even renounce citizenship and retain permanent residence.
He concluded that Ghana must prioritize what a person can offer over documents.
“What we should focus more is the person capable of the position that the person is getting. Is the person… criminal background. Can the person what can the person offer the country? So let’s deal with what is inside the person more than this paper thing because it doesn’t work anywhere,” he said.
By Prosper Kwaku Selassy Agbitor
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