Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo, has granted citizenship to 524 members of the African Diaspora in Ghana.
This isn’t the first time such an occasion has taken place. It started in 2019 when Ghana gave citizenship to the African Diaspora, who have lived there for many years.
This historic swearing-in ceremony forms part of The Year of Return and The “Beyond the Return” program, launched in 2019 to mark 400 years since the first African was taken to America.
The program aims to reconnect Ghana with its shared heritage and strengthen diaspora engagement.
This move is a significant step towards reunifying Africans on the continent with their brothers and sisters in the diaspora, a vision President Akufo-Addo and other stakeholders outlined in Washington, DC, in 2018.
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The new citizens, who took the oath of allegiance administered by a Court of Appeal Justice, are the latest group to benefit from the Year of Return.
This event is a government of Ghana initiative to reconnect the African diaspora with their ancestral roots.
The event is the third ceremony under the current administration which the President called a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to strengthen ties with the African diaspora.
During the ceremony, he encouraged the new citizens to view their new status not just as holding a passport but as embracing the values of respect, equity, peace, and principles that define the Ghanaian people.
The President acknowledged the historical importance of the event, stating,
“Your ancestors left these shores in tragic and inhumane circumstances. Today, we embrace you as part of the Ghanaian family.”
President Akufo-Addo expressed confidence that the new citizens would play an essential role in Ghana’s development, bringing diverse skills and experiences that could contribute to sectors like education, healthcare, technology, and the arts.
He praised the diaspora’s role in challenging global misconceptions about Africa, noting their potential to foster unity and pride.
“You are human bridges connecting us across the Atlantic,” he said.
Minister of the Interior, Henry Quartey, said that the granting of citizenship aligned with Ghana’s long-standing Pan-African ideals, a tradition rooted in the vision of figures like Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and George Padmore.
He also noted that the effort is to tie the broader Diaspora Engagement Policy, which supports both Ghanaians and members of the African diaspora.
