Ghanaian Diaspora - The Right of Return
The Ghanaian Diaspora is a term that describes Ghanaians who have moved to other countries for various reasons. Over the last few decades, a large number of Ghanaians have migrated abroad in search of better opportunities or education. Many leave for economic reasons or better educational opportunities. However, the majority of them are here because they are politically persecuted, fleeing from the brutal dictatorship that has ruled their country since 1981.
This article will cover some of the challenges faced by those who want to go back to their homeland and become citizens. It will also explore what it means to be an African nation with a diaspora.
The Ghanaian Diaspora is a term that describes Ghanaians who have moved to other countries for various reasons. Over the last few decades, a large number of Ghanaians have migrated abroad in search of better opportunities or education. Many leave for economic reasons or better educational opportunities. However, the majority of them are here because they are politically persecuted, fleeing from the brutal dictatorship that has ruled their country since 1981.
Much of this migration has happened in recent decades as there are more and more Ghanaians leaving the country due to lack of job prospects and deteriorating economy. Between 1990 and 2000 alone, about 2 million Ghanaians left their homeland in search of better fortunes elsewhere.
But many people often don't realize that some Ghanaian Diaspora members are not always happy with their current situation abroad- most want to return to their homeland but can't because they don't fulfill the requirements necessary for obtaining citizenship (which varies depending on which country).
While there are many different names for the Ghanaian Diaspora, most people in the diaspora choose to refer to themselves as such. This name is used because when someone leaves their homeland in search of better opportunities, they often are never able to go home again. Many people want to come back but feel like they can't because of the political climate in Ghana.
Ghanaian immigrants are people who have left Ghana in search of better opportunities. They are typically well-educated and skilled professionals. There is a significant population of Ghanaian immigrants living in the United States. In fact, it is estimated that there are more than 500,000 Ghanaians residing in the U.S., making up the fourth largest immigrant group in America.
Many of these people were born in Ghana but moved to the US for education or economic opportunity. There is also a large population of Ghanaian immigrants living in western Europe. The exact number is unknown, but it may be as high as 600,000 individuals.
The Right of Return refers to the legal and practical ability for a person to return to their homeland after having migrated abroad for an extended period of time or permanently leaving their homeland due to political persecution or other reasons such as economic difficulties or educational opportunities. This right has been established by various international laws and conventions such as the Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UDHR) which was adopted by UN General Assembly Resolution 217A (III) on December 10th 1948 and was subsequently ratified by all member states except Somalia and South Sudan
In 1948, the UDHR established that everyone has the right to leave any country they choose and return afterwards without interference from that country's government, unless they have committed a crime against national security or passport law violations. This document also allows everyone to enter their country without undue restrictions despite race, color, sex, language etc.
The diaspora plays a major role in Ghana. The government recognizes this and there are benefits set in place for Ghanaian children of the diaspora to encourage them to return home.
Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama recently signed a new law that makes it easier for people of the diaspora to obtain citizenship. This new law, which came into effect on October 1st 2013, is likely to draw many back to their ancestral home of Ghana.
John Dramani Mahama signed the Right of Return Bill, which promises foreigners who are children of Ghanaian parents automatic citizenship if they visit Ghana for at least 90 days within 12 months.
The only other requirement is that they have not been convicted of a crime or been terrorist activities in the past five years.
Ghanaians living in the diaspora have the right to return. This means that if Ghanaian citizens choose to move back to their homeland, they will not be prosecuted for any crimes committed before moving abroad. They are also granted all rights of a citizen without the need for naturalization.
The Right of Return is an important right because people who have been politically persecuted or had their homes taken away should be given the chance to return home and live freely with their families. It also reaffirms Ghana's commitment to human rights, which it was one of the first African nations to ratify in 1957.
One of the most common debates in modern-day Ghana is what to do with the Ghanaian diaspora who want to come back and become citizens. There have been many different arguments for and against, but not one person has been able to come up with a conclusive answer.
The Right of Return, or ROR, is a somewhat controversial term that is used to describe the rights of those who are Ghanaian citizens and have left their homeland for an extended period of time. The person must have resided outside of Ghana for at least 12 months in order to be eligible for citizenship. In general, those who oppose ROR argue that it would make it easier for the government to oppress dissidents by granting them citizenship. Those in favor argue that giving people the right to return would be better than having them live as foreigners forever.
Many opponents also argue that if people were granted this right they would only return when they were in need of something from their country. They say there will be no real opportunity for integration and that many people will only move back temporarily until they get what they want.
Returning to Africa presents challenges and benefits for those who are forced to leave. Ghanaians in diaspora have the right of return, which means that they can be granted citizenship if they return to Ghana. There are a number of ways in which this is problematic. The first issue is that many of these people do not want to return because they are living comfortable lives elsewhere. They are working and provide a better lifestyle for themselves than what they would have in Ghana.
The second issue is that it's difficult to prove residency. In order to be granted citizenship, you must provide proof that you're a resident. This can be done through your passport or by showing tax documents, utility bills, and other similar documents. However, many people in the diaspora don't have these documents because they've been away from their country for so long. As soon as someone leaves the country, their ID card expires so it becomes harder to prove residency when applying for citizenship.
The third and final problem with the right of return is something called "the brain-drain." Ghanaian Diaspora members are educated professionals who often immigrate outside of their home country for educational opportunities or work opportunities. When these individuals go back home, others will leave as well - causing another brain-drain from the economy and education system in Ghanaian society.
A Ghanaian citizen who is abroad and wants to return home has to deal with a number of challenges. They have to be careful about how they enter the country, as it can get difficult if authorities suspect them of not having a legitimate reason for coming back. They also have to be wary of the fact that their local counterparts will shun them because they are seen as traitors who have left the country without permission.
There are also many bureaucratic hurdles that make returning home difficult. For example, in order to come back, you need a passport; but in order to get a passport, you need an identity card and birth certificate. To obtain these documents, one needs proof of citizenship or residency. And then there is the matter of finding work or establishing a business: one needs capital and social networks in this process.
It is also difficult for those who belong to economically excluded groups in Ghana because they lack access to information about opportunities abroad and do not know about things like bank loans for such ventures.
Many Ghanaians who want to return are prevented from doing so because of their inability to meet the requirements for citizenship. The process is lengthy and can take up to a few years. They also have to pay a hefty amount in order to gain naturalization. In addition, they need to be able to speak the language fluently.
One of the benefits for those who want to go back is that they will have the opportunity to live in a democratic country. The only other African nations that are democratic are South Africa and Botswana - yet they too have had internal struggles in recent years.
Another benefit is that Ghanaians would be able to move up the social ladder, which they wouldn't be able to do living abroad. It also means that they can get more opportunities for employment as there is always demand for educated individuals in Ghanaian society.
