No Political Stand, No Dual Citizenship

Applicants seeking Dual Citizenship and Naturalization are required to indicate their political affiliation on a form as part of the acquisition process. After paying ?500,000 for the Dual Citizenship Form, they are required to fill a second form which contains a clause seeking to know an applicant?s political affiliation.

The clause states among other things that ''an applicant is required to state his or her political background''.

Finding it rather strange, an applicant who did not find any justification for the demand hinted the ''Ghanaian Times'' about it. He said he felt embarrassed after being asked to declare his political affiliation on paper and pointed out that the demand is against the constitution of Ghana as well as the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights.

Asked whether he provided an answer to that question when filling his forms, he said he left it blank and submitted it.

When the paper followed up to the Ministry of Interior and Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), some sources there confirmed the existence of that clause on the forms. But another source at the GIS said the forms were used for other purposes so that clause did not apply to those seeking dual citizenship.

The source directed the ?Times? to the Ministry of Interior if it wanted an interpretation of the clause.

When contacted, a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Legal issues expressed utter shock and surprise at the question, describing it as ''repugnant and absurd''.

The Deputy Attorney General, Miss Gloria Akuffo also expressed surprise saying: ''This is news to me'' and referred the paper to the Interior Ministry. Investigations continue.