SAINT-AYISI SAMUEL

There have been several arguments by concerned citizens and other political stakeholders in relation to citizenship.   The diverse opinions and ideological perspectives as to who qualifies to be a citizen has created heated arguments by political actors on the media airwaves. The constitution of Ghana clearly explains how individuals qualifies to be a citizen in chapter three (3) of the 1992 constitution. Article 6 clause (1) of the 1992 constitution states that “Every person who, on the coming into force of this Constitution, is a citizen of Ghana by law shall continue to be a citizen of Ghana”. Clause (2) also states that “Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a person born in or outside Ghana after the coming into force of this Constitution, shall become a citizen of Ghana at the date of his birth if either of his parents or grandparents is or was a citizen of Ghana”. Further elaborations in clause (3) also states that “A child of not more than seven year...

It is extremely heart breaking, worrisome and ridiculous if laymen on our principal streets are brutalized, tortured, dehumanized and coarsened by the police and other security service due to their ignorance of the content of the Criminal Code 1960 and the 1992 constitution on the activities of the police service. Central to this topical issue, it is important to know the modus operandi of the Ghana Police Service and their rules of engagement. There are several assertions in relations to the powers of the Ghana Police Service. To start with, there is a misconception about how the police carry out arrest. It has become a ritual for some policemen to just arrest an individual without explaining the reason for their arrest.   Article 14 clause 2 of the 1992 Ghana Constitution states that “A person who is arrested, restricted or detained shall be informed immediately, in a language that he understands, of the reasons for his arrest, restriction or detention and of his right ...