GHANA- Friday, July 17, 2020,/ https://africanpostonline.com/ Mr Godfred Dame, the Deputy Attorney General has said the birth certificate is simply a record of birth and not proof of an individual’s citizenship status. Mr Dame said the birth certificate which bears the name of the individual as well as that of his or her parents and their nationality, is not enough proof that the bearer is a Ghanaian.
This he says is because the information on the certificate is not verifiable.
Mr Dame said that appropriate document that can prove a person’s Ghanaian-ness is by going through the National Identification Authority’s process of acquiring a Ghana Card.
“The fact that you are born on the land of Ghana does not mean you are a citizen. When it is stated here [on birth certificate] your mother is a Ghanaian or your father is a Ghanaian when there has not been any verification…it cannot be evidence of citizenship,” the Deputy A-G told Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Friday.
His comments came as a reaction to a Supreme Court judgement which stated that the birth certificate is not a proof of citizenship.
“A birth certificate is not a form of identification. It does not establish the identity of the bearer. Nor does it link the holder with the information on the certificate. Quite obviously, it provides no evidence of citizenship,” the Supreme Court verdict said in part.
The ruling was declared in the NDC and other cases versus the Attorney General. The NDC was seeking for the birth certificate to be added to the list of required documents Ghanaians can use to obtain the new voter’s ID.
The Supreme Court, however, explained in the ruling that, a birth certificate does not satisfy the requirements of article 42 of the constitution.
“In fact, as a form of Identification, it is worse than the NHI card which was held to be unconstitutional as evidence of identification of a person who applies for registration as a voter…” the court said.
Since the apex court declared the ruling, there has been widespread critics from recognized legal practitioners, particular among them is the Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Professional Studies, Mr Kofi Abotsi.
Mr Abotsi said the ruling undermines the product of state institution. Responding to his comments, Mr Dame said Mr Abotsi’ comments rather undermine the Supreme Court of the land insisting that Mr Abotsi’s comments were unnecessary.
Source: Deborah Narkoah -African Post Online
Read Also:
- Senegalese President declares today a public holiday to celebrate AFCON win
- Fall in Love with Love at Banyan Tree Ilha Caldeira, Mozambique
- Ghana: The story of a coconut company that exports throughout the world
- Axim Government Hospital shuts two facilities to shoot Hollywood movie; residents cry foul
- Honoring Archbishop Desmond Tutu, An Advocate and Believer in Humanity
Follow Us
I’m Deborah Aba Narkoah. I’m an avid reader, writer and public speaker.
