I’ve renounced my US citizenship - Adu Boaten tells Appointments Committee

Mr Charles Kofi Asare Adu Boahen, a son of the late Professor Albert Adu Boahen who has been nominated as a deputy minister of finance has explained that he used to be an American citizen but has since renounced it.

Appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, he said he has since surrendered his US passport.

The constitution of Ghana requires that before a person is appointed a Minister of State or assumes office as a Parliamentarian, that person should not owe allegiance to any other country apart from the Republic Ghana.

According to Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader, his search at the time the nominee’s name was presented to Parliament as a deputy minister designate for finance revealed that he was a citizen of the US as of March 13, 2017.

Mr Adu Boahen responding to the question said he was no more a US citizen.

“Mr Chairman I have held dual citizenship since it was first allowed under the President Kufuor government and as of last year December, I started the process to renounce my American citizenship. 

“The process entailed three counseling sessions with the Head of Citizen Services at the American Embassy, which I’ve been through and it culminated in taking an Oath of renunciation, which I did at a ceremony and I surrendered my passport at that ceremony. So I can say categorically that I’m no longer a citizen of the United States.”

When he was asked to provide documentation to support his US citizenship renunciation, the Chairman of the committee, Mr Joe Osei Owusu said he has a copy of the records of evidence of the process.

He mentioned that the record was dated March 20, 2017 as the date the ceremony took place.

Mr Adu Boahen, an investment banker had his training at Harvard. He is the third child of the late Professor of history [Albert Adu Boahen] who led the New Patriotic Party (NPP)) as a presidential candidate in the 1992 Elections.

He is the Managing Director of Primrose Properties and Chief Executive Officer of the investment company, Black Star Advisors. He personally set up those two companies.

Asked at the vetting why he chose to leave the private sector to work in the public sector, he explained: “I thought carefully about it when His Excellency called me and offered me the position. I felt that it was time for me to do my national service and to step up and help contribute to this country. I’m hoping that by doing so it might encourage a lot more people in the private sector to also come on board so that we can all help to move this country forward.”

Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh

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