Welcome to ANOPWAN
A Unified Petition to the Esteemed Government of Ghana
Enact and Implement the Birthright Certificate for Descendants of the Transatlantic Slave Trade
To:
His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana,
The Honourable Speaker and Members of the Parliament of Ghana,
The Honourable Minister for the Interior,
The Honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration,
The Honourable Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture,
The Honourable Minister for Finance,
The Honourable Minister for Education,
And all relevant government agencies and stakeholders.
We, the undersigned – direct descendants of the transatlantic slave trade, alongside dedicated allies and supporters from around the globe, convened and championed by ANOPWAN, respectfully submit this unified petition.
Preamble: Ghana stands as a historic leader of Pan-Africanism and has demonstrated commendable leadership by creating initiatives such as The Right to Return, Year of Return, and the Right of Abode. The proposed "Birthright Certificate," exclusively for the direct descendants of those Africans forcibly removed and enslaved during the transatlantic slave trade, is a vital and logical progression. It offers a profound opportunity for healing, reconnection, and the tangible achievement of restorative justice.
We believe the Birthright Certificate will:
- Offer True Restorative Justice: Formally acknowledge the immeasurable historical injustice and provide a dignified, tangible pathway for descendants to reconnect with their ancestral land.
- Strengthen Pan-African Unity & Ghana's Leadership: Solidify Ghana's role as a preeminent leader in the Pan-African movement and inspire similar courageous initiatives across the African continent.
- Catalyse Economic Growth & Development: Attract significant investment, heritage tourism (especially to vital sites like the slave castles and forts), diverse skills, and entrepreneurial talent from the diaspora. Will contribute to Ghana's vision of a 24-hour economy, free SHS and generate crucial revenue (e.g., through the proposed certificate fee and subsequent citizenship or residency application fees processed by the Ministry of Interior).
- Enrich Ghana Culturally and Socially: Foster deeper, meaningful cultural exchange and understanding, strengthening the social fabric by welcoming back a vital part of its extended family.
- Enhance Educational Imperatives: Provide crucial opportunities for curriculum development within Ghanaian educational institutions to sensitise youth about this shared, often painful, history and facilitate language and cultural training for returning descendants, benefiting the Ministry of Education's mandate.
Our Humble Appeal, Championed by ANOPWAN:
On behalf of the descendant community and its allies, we earnestly appeal to the Government of Ghana to:
- Expedite Legislative Action: Prioritise, pass, and enact the necessary legislation to establish the Birthright Certificate as a policy with urgency.
- Establish Clear, Fair, and Accessible Processes: Develop transparent, efficient, and respectful application and verification processes for determining eligibility. It is paramount that these processes ensure only true descendants of the transatlantic slave trade qualify, upholding the integrity of this sacred initiative.
- Allocate Sufficient Resources: Ensure that all relevant Ministries (Interior, Foreign Affairs, Tourism, Finance, Education, Lands, etc.) and parliamentary committees are adequately resourced and prepared to manage this historic program effectively.
- Maintain Diaspora Engagement: Continue and deepen engagement with representative organisations from the descendant community in the diaspora, including ANOPWAN, throughout the design, implementation, and ongoing review of the program.
- Vigorously Promote the Initiative: Once established, widely publicise the Birthright Certificate through all available channels to ensure eligible descendants globally are aware of this transformative opportunity.
The eyes of Africa and its global diaspora are upon Ghana. The Birthright Certificate is not merely a policy; it is a profound statement of justice, a bridge across generations and oceans, and a testament to Ghana's enduring commitment to the Pan-African ideal.
We pledge our collective support and eagerly anticipate celebrating the successful and compassionate implementation of this momentous initiative under your esteemed leadership.
Respectfully Submitted by the Undersigned (Championed and Convened by ANOPWAN)