A private legal practitioner and Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil has called on Ghanaians to burn their birth certificates adding that they only prove that “you were born”.
Mr. Bentil was reacting on Facebook following the Supreme Court of Ghana ruling that your birth certificate alone as acquired in Ghana, even when born to Ghanaian parents, is not proof that you are a citizen.
The apex court has said you would need a guarantor, who himself must prove beyond reasonable doubt that he originated from Ghanaian ancestry to make your birth certificate legitimate.
The Court made the ruling when a citizen of Ghana dragged the Electoral Commission before it for excluding birth certificate as one of the primary documents required to prove citizenship in to acquire new voter’s ID in the ongoing new voters registration exercise.
Mr. Bentil like other prominent Ghanaians including the Dean of University of Cape Coast Business School, Prof. John Gatsi; Founding President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe have all disagreed.
“Burn your Birth Certificates. They only prove that you were born, but you’re standing there so you don’t need that proof.” – Mr. Bentil wrote
“What a stupid system we’ve built???” – he fumes
In a shot Facebook post, Prof. Gatsi said:
Prof. John Gatsi
“My Birth Certificate
My birth certificate indicates my name, names of my parents and their nationality . Ordinarily, issuance of a certificate is a process including filling of a form and vetting same. The actual issuance of a birth certificate by the registrar of Births and Deaths is a conclusive evidence of who the certificate says the one to whom it is issued to is.
If a birth certificate issued in Ghana to a child born in Ghana to Ghanaian parents or parent is not capable of identifying whether or not the person or child is a Ghanaian , then a passport is just a glorified birth certificate notwithstanding the fact that it is only issued to a citizen.
What is the role of a birth certificate in NIA registration? Simply to prove citizenship.
What is the role of a birth certificate in application for a passport? Simply to prove citizenship.
So how can this primary document be downgraded when it comes to determination of citizenship?”
Mr. Franklin Cudjoe also shared his thought on the development:
Franklin Cudjoe
“So it is official. The Supreme Court of Ghana says your birth certificate alone as acquired in Ghana, even when born to Ghanaian parents, is not proof that you are a citizen.
They essentially say, you would need a guarantor, who himself must prove beyond reasonable doubt that he originated from Ghanaian ancestry to make your birth certificate legitimate. I see some Lawyers agree with this position as they argue for instance, when acquiring a passport with your birth certificate, you are asked for guarantors. Granted, but who determines the Ghanaianess of the guarantor at the time of applying for a passport? The Church of Latter Day Saints or Angel Obinim? The request for guarantors is not to prove that they were present during the intimate act that climaxed and with it released semen into the hallowed abode that birthed you. That is why headmasters of schools and other professionals who merely knew you after birth are asked to be guarantors- passive ones too.
Look, we must be careful with this delicate issue- it has plunged a number of African countries into chaos. I also noticed that the Supreme Court, contrary to the needless public commentary about the neutrality of the Amicus parties, simply said on page 6 of their ruling thay , they declined the amicus because the parties filed late and in their view did not contain new relevant information. Any other commentary is obiter- non-fa!!”
By: Efo Korsi Senyo / awakenewsroom.com