Ghana citizenship rolled out for African Americans as part of Year of Return

Dressed  in colorful traditional outfits and holding the country’s national flag, 126 foreign nationals who had lived in Ghana for many years attained citizenship on Wednesday.

According to CNN, the ceremony was part of country’s Year of Return celebrations.

Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo said those conferred with the Ghana citizenship join a generation of people in the diaspora, including civil rights activists.

Among them are William Edward Burghart, W.E.E Du Bois and American poet Maya Angelou who lived in the country for several years.

“I am glad you have decided to make Ghana your home and thereby join several generations of Diasporans, who committed their lives to us,”said the president.

The campaign was launched in 2018 and it encourages  people of African descent, whose ancestors were victims of the brutal slave trade, to return to Ghana.

About 75%  of the slave dungeons on the west coast of Africa are in Ghana.

President Akufo said the country recognizes its role in history where people were enslaved and exchanged as modes of trade.

“That is why we had a responsibility to extend a hand of ‘welcome back home’ to Africans in the diaspora. Many have responded to this call,” the President said.

Ghana has legislation such as the Right of Abode law of 2000 that allows people of African descent to apply for citizenship.