CRC Commended for Addressing Citizenship Concerns of Persons of Zongo Descent
Sheikh Mohammed Ridwan, Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Radio and Chairman of the Muslims Peace Committee in the Ashanti Region, has lauded the Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) for its acceptance and consideration of proposals aimed at ending the use of “hometown” or ancestral origin as a basis for denying Ghanaian citizenship to persons of Zongo descent born in the country.
In a press statement issued in Kumasi on Tuesday, Sheikh Ridwan expressed profound appreciation to the Committee for what he described as a bold and progressive step toward strengthening equality and national unity. He particularly commended the Chairman of the CRC, Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, for his leadership, openness, and constitutional foresight in engaging with the concerns raised in the memorandum submitted to the Committee.
According to Sheikh Ridwan, the CRC’s recommendations submitted to President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, December 22, 2025, mark a significant milestone in Ghana’s constitutional development. He noted that the Committee’s work addresses a long-standing challenge faced by many Ghanaians born in urban and cosmopolitan communities who are unable to trace their ancestry to a specific traditional hometown.
“The Committee’s approach affirms the principle that citizenship is a constitutional and legal status, not one determined by ethnic lineage or chieftaincy affiliation,” he stated, adding that the recommendations align with democratic values, international human rights standards, and the evolving social realities of modern Ghana.
Sheikh Ridwan emphasized that the acceptance of the proposal offers renewed hope to thousands of Ghanaians of Zongo descent and other similarly affected communities who, despite being born and raised in Ghana, have historically encountered administrative and social barriers in fully enjoying their citizenship rights.
He further praised the entire Constitutional Review Committee for its diligence, inclusiveness, and patriotism, expressing confidence that the recommendations, if implemented, would enhance national cohesion and foster a more inclusive Ghanaian identity.
The Chairman of the Muslims Peace Committee also called on Parliament, civil society organizations, traditional authorities, and the general public to support the implementation of the CRC’s recommendations in the national interest.
“Ghana belongs to all who are born of her, live in her, and pledge allegiance to her Constitution,” he stressed.
