Ghanaians abroad suspect minister

Accra, Oct. 10, Network Herald -- A core group of Ghanaians living overseas have indicated intentions to seek legal redress over what they describe as “subtle moves being made by the government through deputy Information Minister Stephen Asamoah-Boateng to erode their democratic right to freedom of movement in an attempt to breach their fundamental rights to privacy,” in his quest to raise foreign capital.

They refer to Mr. Asamoah-Boateng’s proposals for mobilising resources from non-resident Ghanaians as bogus, intimidating and without regard to basic human rights. The group represented by one Kwaku Duah of Milton Keynes, was of the view that the proposal is flawed in its selfish outlook and hypocrisy since it is presented on the premise that “the working population is continuously shrinking as more and more Ghanaians queue up at foreign missions seeking to leave the country.”

Mr. Asamoah-Boateng had proposed to government as the Co-Ordinator of the HomeComing Secretariat, the implementation of a head tax of Ghanaians living abroad to offset losses to the country’s development as a result of migration to seek greener pastures. But the complainants who claim they left the shores of the country out of frustration say they do not understand why monies they send down to their relatives should go to government when they cannot be given the assurance of job guarantee for their siblings, friends and relations.

They also pointed out that to entreat Ghana’s missions, old students groups associations to register all non resident Ghanaians to form the basis of the database for the issuance of ID cards passports and for voting purposes is a breach of the constitutional provisions on Universal Adult Suffrage and equality of treatment. The group cautioned the deputy minister and government from doing anything unconstitutional with respect to the right of every citizen to be registered for voting. They contend that the proponents of the scheme exhibit crass ignorance of the constitutional, legal and economic problems that would arise from its implementation.

Constitutionally, they dared the government to impose any taxes without the approval of parliament. According to them, proposed penalties against non-compliance would also be a breach of the human and constitutional right of every Ghanaian to be treated equally with other Ghanaians for the purpose of national laws governing voting and other civil rights. The deputy minister who is on a countrywide sensitization tour, however, told the Network Herald that whatever is on paper is and will continue to be a proposal until someone sees the need for implementation.

He said he did the work in response to a request from the High Commission in London for a working paper on the workability of the scheme. Among others, Mr. Asamoah- Boateng’s proposal recommended that concessions would be given to the non resident Ghanaians through methods such as putting up duty stamps from 2.5per cent and other charges on acquiring land for residential use.