Joshua Ansah
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has cautioned against opening Parliament to dual citizens, insisting that membership of the legislature must be reserved for people whose allegiance to the country is beyond question.
The union says it sees no justification for changing the constitutional restriction that prevents Ghanaians who hold citizenship of another country from contesting parliamentary elections without first renouncing that citizenship.
The issue has emerged as the government considers recommendations submitted by the Constitutional Review Committee for changes to the 1992 Constitution.
At a press conference to outline its position on the proposed reforms, the TUC Secretary-General, Joshua Ansah, said the recommendation on dual citizenship was unacceptable to organised labour.
“The TUC disagrees with the recommendation to amend Article 94(2) to allow US citizens to contest parliamentary elections and become Members of Parliament while remaining a citizen of another country,” he said.
Mr. Ansah described the proposal as “self-serving” and a threat to the principle of genuine citizenship, arguing that it would not advance Ghana’s national interest.
“In fact, we characterise the recommendation as self-serving and a direct assault on genuine citizenship. It is contradictory and serves no useful purpose for the country,” he added.
The TUC believes that anyone entrusted with the responsibility of making laws and representing Ghanaians in Parliament should have an undivided commitment to the country.
It has therefore urged the government to retain the existing restrictions on dual citizens seeking parliamentary office.
Consensus Needed
The union also wants the constitutional review process to be subjected to wider consultation, warning against amendments that could be shaped primarily by the interests of the government of the day.
Mr. Ansah said political parties, organised labour and other relevant groups must be brought into the process to build broad agreement around any proposed changes.
He said although the Constitutional Review Committee consulted sections of the public, its approach could not be compared with the inclusiveness of the Constituent Assembly that produced the 1992 Constitution.
The TUC is particularly concerned about the possibility of a referendum being limited to issues selected by the government, potentially excluding proposals supported by other stakeholders.
“We foresee a danger,” Mr. Ansah said, cautioning that such an approach could allow future governments with the necessary parliamentary majority to amend non-entrenched provisions of the Constitution to suit their political philosophies and manifestos.
“We must not open up the Constitution for partisan political manoeuvring,” he stressed.
Supports Five-Year Term
The TUC, however, does not oppose every proposed constitutional change.
It has endorsed the proposal to increase the presidential term from four to five years, although it wants the extension to be accompanied by measures that strengthen governance and accountability.
The union has also backed proposed changes to Article 70 aimed at reducing the President’s appointment powers.
It maintains, however, that reviewing Article 70 alone would not adequately address the issue and that the provisions of Article 195 should also be considered as part of the exercise.
The TUC’s position comes as government advances the constitutional reform process.
The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has already inaugurated an 11-member Constitution Review Implementation Committee (CRIC) to work on the proposals arising from the review.
For the TUC, however, any changes to the country’s supreme law must be based on broad national consensus rather than the interests of a particular political administration.
By Ernest Kofi Adu