Kufuor promises Ghanaians dual citizenship

PARIS, -- Ghanaian President John Agyekum Kufuor, on an official visit to France, says Ghanaians will soon enjoy dual citizenship under a new Law before the country's Parliament.

He told his compatriots at a reception in Paris Sunday that his government was working on legislative instruments to protect their interests both at home and abroad.

Kufuor said the economic support by Ghanaians abroad could not be under-estimated, revealing that last year alone, the country received some 400 million US dollars from Ghanaians overseas.

He said he has also received assurances from Western creditors,including France, Germany, US and Canada, promising to cancel Ghana's debts once the country met the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC) requirements.

The Ghanaian leader said the country spent more than 200 million US dollars annually to service its debts.

Meanwhile, he said, France has promised technical support to various development projects in Ghana, adding that his government was also stepping up efforts to streamline operations at the country's ports to ensure speedy clearing of goods.

Kufuor was due Monday, to visit the French Airbus industry in the Southern French City of Toulouse, as part of the programme of his visit, which ends Thursday.