Ghanaians who are citizens in Germany have petitioned Ghana’s Ambassador to Germany, Gina Blay and Interior Minister, Henry Quartey to expedite the process to reinstate their citizenship.

Following the passage of the Dual Citizenship law in Germany, they are now free to be Ghanaians again.

However, they have expressed worry about the inaction on the part of the Ghana Embassy in Germany.

Speaking to Asempa FM’s Abrokyire Nkomo host, Kwaku Amankwatia, the Ghanaian Community Leader in Germany, Kwaku Appiah said “it is disappointing that there are still no clear answers to our questions about the reinstatement process”.

This lack of clarity four months after the law was passed, he noted, is causing significant frustration within the Ghanaian community in Germany.

Mr. Appiah said it is imperative that the Government of Ghana expedite the process to reinstate its citizens. 

He hinted of an impending demonstration if the Ambassador, Gina Blay fails to act on their petition.

Dear H.E Gina Blay,

URGENT CLARIFICATION ON REINSTATEMENT PROCESS

We are writing on behalf of the Ghanaian community in Germany to express our concerns
regarding the reinstatement process for dual citizenship.

It has been over four months since the Dual Citizenship law was passed, yet there have been no definitive measures announced regarding the cost and timelines for reinstatement to apply for a Ghanaian passport.

The Embassy has been aware of the developments concerning the new law for more than a
year. It is disappointing that there are still no clear answers to our questions about the
reinstatement process. This lack of clarity is causing significant frustration within our
community.

In the past, we have advocated for the Ghanaian government to value its citizens and make it easier to retain Ghanaian citizenship while acquiring another, as seen in Nigeria.

Unfortunately, this did not materialize. Now that Germany allows dual citizenship, it is
imperative that the Government of Ghana expedite the process to reinstate its citizens.

Many of our compatriots had to renounce their Ghanaian citizenship due to economic reasons and the mandatory requirements at the time.

We wish to remind the Government of Ghana of the benefits of reclaiming its citizens who
have integrated into German society. These benefits include:
* Strengthening bilateral relations between Ghana and Germany.
* Increasing economic investments from the Ghanaian diaspora.
* Boosting remittances to support families and communities in Ghana.
* Encouraging skilled professionals to contribute to Ghana’s development.

We request that the embassy develop a comprehensive process for reinstating Ghanaian
citizenship.

We believe there are precedents, such as Ghana Embassy in Norway’s approach
to dual citizenship, that can guide this process. It is perplexing that Ghanaians in Germany,
many of whom were born in Ghana and hold Ghanaian birth certificates, face such difficulties in reacquiring their passports.

The current process outlined by the embassy is quite cumbersome and should not be more difficult than applying for a passport.

We respectfully request a detailed response from the embassy within the next two weeks,
outlining the steps and requirements for reinstatement. If we do not hear from the Embassy within this timeframe, we will proceed with organizing a demonstration in Berlin to highlight the urgency of our concerns and our commitment to resolving these issues.

Ghanaian Community in Germany
Sezannerstrasse 78a, 76316 Malsch
Benjamin Sarfo Okrah | GHANAIAN COMMUNITY GERMANY

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We look forward to your prompt response and actions.
Sincerely,
Benjamin Sarfo Okrah

The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation Foundation has stepped in to resolve the accommodation challenges of the Taviefe Senior High School in the Ho Municipality of the Volta Region.

The foundation has cut sod for the construction of a 160-bed capacity and ancillary facilities, under its education thematic area, following an appeal by Taviefe Traditional authorities.

The Taviefe Senior High School established in 1983 was absorbed into the public sector in 1989.

A major challenge for the school had been lack of dormitory for female students.

The Headmistress of Taviefe Senior High School, Rose Menu explained that three classroom were converted into sleeping places for the female students, since the 150-bed capacity dormitory facility could not accommodate the large numbers.

“Our boarding girls population stood at 415, with only one dormitory block, which contains six rooms. This was able to accommodate just about half of the number.”

“When all the 3 year groups were in school, some of the girls had to be moved to the headmistress and the school housemistress bungalows to sleep”, she explained.

Realizing the impediment of the situation on academic activities, traditional authorities initiated a campaign to resolve the challenge.

Through the help of Ghana’s Ambassador to Germany and a daughter of the soil, Gina Blay, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation Foundation has cut sod for the construction of a 160-bed capacity dormitory block and a 20 seater sanitary facility.

The Executive Director of the Foundation, Dr. Dominic Kwesi Eduah, said the project adds up to the about 20 projects already ongoing in the Volta Region, financed by his outfit.

This he said was as a result of a decision to extend areas covered by the Foundation beyond only oil-rich areas to the entire country “since the oil belongs to all Ghanaians”.

He highlighted projects in education, water and sanitations which are scattered across the region and are at various stages of completion.

Dr. Eduah said the structure which is expected to competed in four months will be named after Gina Blay, and in effect she will finance the annual maintenance cost.

The Paramount Chief of Taviefe, Togbe Tenku Kojo Ziga III, appreciated the commitment by the GNPC Foundation to help eradicate the accommodation challenge.

He also extolled the Blay Family for the role they have played in influencing the organisation to allocate the school a project which will not only make room for enough students but also improve academic performance, hygiene and the health of the students, especially females.

The school’s management, however, appealed for the construction of a fence wall around the school, beds and an official vehicle.

Ghana has opened a consulate in the German city of Dortmund.

 The opening ceremony of the consulate was held recently with top local officials joining Ghana’s envoy to Germany, Mrs Gina Ama Blay, for the plush event.

At the opening ceremony, there was the transfer of the office of Consul from Manfred O. Schroder to Klaus Wegener.

The General Consul, Manfred O. Schroder, did the presentation of the structure to Consul Klaus Wegener, the President of Auslandsgesellschaft Dortmund, who has represented Ghana’s interests for more than 50 years.

The Mayor of Dortmund, Manfred Sauer, was present as a guest of honour during the ceremony.

Consul Klaus Wegener will manage the Consulate of Ghana in North Rhine-Westphalia from now on.

General Consul Manfred O. Schröder, aged 94, said for the more than 50 years that he has held the office he had made friends all around the world because, he added, Ghana maintains consulates in all large capital cities.

With many Ghanaians living in many places such as the USA such relations are important, he said.

Consul Schröder wished the newly appointed Consul well in his new appointment.

Ambassador Gina Blay thanked General Consul Manfred O. Schröder for his many years of service and expressed her conviction that his personal relationship with Ghana and the Embassy especially, will continue as before.

She concluded her speech with the words: “Here is a son of the Republic of Ghana,” and asked the audience for a standing ovation for the outgoing consul.

Former President John Dramani Mahama honoured Manfred O. Schröder with the highest award of the Republic of Ghana, the Grand Medal of Ghana in gold, for his decades of service.

Ghana now has four honorary consulates in Germany including Dortmund, Hamburg, Munich and Hanover.