The Progressive People’s Party (PPP) has asked government to amend the laws regarding dual citizenship.

It said the restriction placed on persons with dual citizenship stalls national development as they are prevented from holding any public office.

The party wants the existing laws to be amended immediately to ensure that no person of Ghanaian origin is restricted from contributing their skills and knowledge to the nation's growth.

“We want our laws on dual citizenship, and public service amended to all Ghanaians. Citizens with dual citizenship must be given full citizenship right to serve in all public sectors, to be MPs or President.”

“We are asking that this law be changed to allow all Ghanaians dual citizens or not in all public service positions they wish to serve,” the PPP’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Simon Quansah, stated.

This was contained in a speech read on behalf of the party’s National Chairman, Nana Ofori Owusu, at the New Patriotic Party’s annual delegates’ conference on Sunday.

Their call is in line with the case of the embattled Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson, who has been fighting a dual citizenship case after he won the parliamentary seat in the 2020 elections.

Last week, a Cape Coast Court of Appeal dismissed an application by NDC MP for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson.

He was seeking to appeal a judgment of a Cape Coast High Court that restrained him from holding himself as the MP for the people of Assin North.

The PPP believes such instances are frustrating as many of such individuals lose interest in supporting the country’s development.

“Our brothers and sisters who are sponsored by GETFund to study abroad get knowledge and experience and become dual citizens to take advantage of economic opportunities elsewhere; they send their monies home and later come back with the experience and knowledge to serve than to be denied by the laws that segregate our citizens,” Mr Quansah bemoaned.

Appointment of Independent State Attorney

The Progressive People’s Party also called on the government to appoint an independent public prosecutor who would discharge his duties without political favours.

They also want the office of the Attorney General to be separated from the Ministry of Justice.

“Separate the Attorney General from the Ministry of Justice. It is important that the Minister of Justice, who is the government’s lawyer, is not the same person who is the people’s lawyer and prosecuting crimes in the country. People in government also commit crimes, so we need someone outside the government to prosecute all crimes.”

“The PPP is demanding for an independent public prosecutor who is constitutionally independent of the Ministry of Justice with a fixed term of office which does not commence or end with a political president, who is elected by the people of a different electoral cycle and accountable only to Parliament. He will ensure all persons who deserve prosecution are dealt with devoid of political colours.”