Ghana has suspended its citizenship application process for people of African descent, citing the need to make the system more accessible and user-friendly. The move comes as a surprise to applicants who had already submitted their applications under the country's "Year of Return" initiative, which aims to revitalize Ghana's relationship with the African diaspora.
The suspension has raised concerns among potential applicants who are eager to obtain Ghanaian citizenship in order to own property, vote, and access public services. Many have invested heavily in sectors such as real estate, agriculture, tech, and small businesses, often seeking Ghanaian citizenship as a way to secure their investments.
The application process was introduced in 2016, primarily aimed at the descendants of those who were victims of the transatlantic slave trade. Since then, over 1,000 people have obtained Ghanaian nationality, including notable figures such as American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder.
However, applicants have complained about the lengthy and expensive application process, which includes submitting DNA evidence within a tight timeframe and paying a substantial fee. Critics argue that the current system is overly bureaucratic and difficult to navigate, with some applicants questioning the reliability of DNA testing.
Dr Erieka Bennet, ambassador for the Diaspora African Forum, which helps people relocate to Ghana, expressed confidence that the issues would be resolved and that the application process would resume. However, the government has not provided a clear timeline for when the suspension will end, leaving many applicants in limbo.
Ghana's outreach to Africans worldwide is rooted in its post-independence Pan-African vision championed by President Kwame Nkrumah. The country's "Year of Return" initiative aims to reconnect with the African diaspora and promote economic development through investments and partnerships.
As uncertainty surrounds the suspension, many are left wondering if they will ever have the opportunity to become Ghanaian citizens.
The suspension has raised concerns among potential applicants who are eager to obtain Ghanaian citizenship in order to own property, vote, and access public services. Many have invested heavily in sectors such as real estate, agriculture, tech, and small businesses, often seeking Ghanaian citizenship as a way to secure their investments.
The application process was introduced in 2016, primarily aimed at the descendants of those who were victims of the transatlantic slave trade. Since then, over 1,000 people have obtained Ghanaian nationality, including notable figures such as American singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder.
However, applicants have complained about the lengthy and expensive application process, which includes submitting DNA evidence within a tight timeframe and paying a substantial fee. Critics argue that the current system is overly bureaucratic and difficult to navigate, with some applicants questioning the reliability of DNA testing.
Dr Erieka Bennet, ambassador for the Diaspora African Forum, which helps people relocate to Ghana, expressed confidence that the issues would be resolved and that the application process would resume. However, the government has not provided a clear timeline for when the suspension will end, leaving many applicants in limbo.
Ghana's outreach to Africans worldwide is rooted in its post-independence Pan-African vision championed by President Kwame Nkrumah. The country's "Year of Return" initiative aims to reconnect with the African diaspora and promote economic development through investments and partnerships.
As uncertainty surrounds the suspension, many are left wondering if they will ever have the opportunity to become Ghanaian citizens.
this is just another example of how things fall apart when people think they can rush into something without thinking it through... like, what's next? gonna suspend the whole "year of return" thing too? 
and now all these people who've invested their lives into getting ghanian citizenship are left wondering if they'll ever get to experience the 'benefits' of being a ghanaian... newsflash: it's not just about owning property or voting, it's about having a sense of community and belonging... 
and now they're just suspending the whole thing without giving anyone any real answers? what's really going on here? 
I'm actually kinda surprised that Ghana suspended its citizenship application process - like, I get why they want it more accessible and all, but what about all the people who already submitted their apps? 
Like, didn't they think of them? 
I guess it's good that Dr Erieka Bennet is confident everything will be okay, but come on, when's this suspension gonna end? 
It's like, super frustrating for people who have already invested so much in trying to get Ghanaian citizenship. And honestly, I'm not sure if the DNA testing thing is even necessary - like, can't they just trust ppl's ancestry or something? 
Anyway, back to the news - suspending the application process seems like a pretty standard bureaucratic move that's gonna hurt a lot of people who've invested in Ghana. DNA testing being a thing is just ridiculous, I mean come on 
and the fact that they're not giving anyone any clear info about when it'll all get sorted out is super annoying... it feels like they just want to sweep the whole thing under the rug 
It's not like they're asking for the moon or anything... just a citizenship application process that doesn't require a small fortune or DNA drama.