Nana Kwame Bediako announces plan to 'sell' Ghanaian citizenship to raise $50 billion investment

Nana Kwame Bediako, who has expressed interest in becoming President of Ghana says he will convince the diaspora, especially people of African descent and other Africans to come and invest in Ghana and his target is to raise US$50 billion.

Describing it as "Ghana's first $50 billion," and explaining how he will do it, he said the grand agenda will be to introduce the "African unification," which is going to start from Ghana.

"We [Ghana] will be the first people to start the project USA - United States of Africa, by people joining us [Ghana] and we welcoming them through our borders but also, they will also be investing on our land."

This means, Nana Kwame Bediako intends giving Ghanaian citizenship and passports to other Africans and people with African descent in the diaspora but only on condition that, they invest in Ghana. That is how he intends to raise the $50 billion.

Nana Kwame Bediako intends to contest the upcoming December 7, 2024 presidential election as an independent candidate and unveiling his manifesto titled "The 12 Pillars for Economic Freedom," on Sunday night [September 1, 2024], he said the Pillar 10, which is raising Ghana's first $50 billion is one of his favourites and which is the solution to all of Ghana's problems.

The manifesto is described by the New Force Movement leader as his visionary document, laying out a comprehensive plan aimed at bringing prosperity, creating opportunities, and ensuring a bright future for all Ghanaians.

The 12 Pillars he unveiled on Sunday are his key policies and vision for Ghana, for which, he wants the electorate to ponder over and elect him as President on December 7, 2024, if the Electoral Commission (EC) clears him as an independent candidate.

Citizenship by Investment Programmes

Checks by Graphic Online indicates that citizenship by investment programmes provide families with the privilege of acquiring an alternative citizenship, which in turn gives them the right to travel freely to various destinations and to settle in another country.

Over 100 countries in the world have some form of investment migration legislation in place.

Of these, about 30 residence and/or citizenship by investment programmes are running successfully.

For instance, the minimum donation to the Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) programme to obtain citizenship and a passport in  the St. Kitts and Nevis for example is estimated around $400,000 for a single applicant, with an additional estimated $25,000 for a spouse and another estimated $10,000 for each dependent under 18 years old.

Some of these such credible programmes are available in Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Dominca, Egypt, Grenada, Jordan, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Türkiye and others, according to the checks by Graphic Online.

Nana Kwame Bediako's proposal on citizenship for investment

Presenting his manifesto on Sunday night and when he got to Pillar 10, which he described as his favourite, he said, "Ghana raising Ghana's first $50 billion, I mean, these are the kind of figures when you call, it is like, how is Ghana ever going to make this money?"

"Because we are only struggling over US$3 billion, and we barely get it. How are we going to raise US$50 billion? Yes, we are going to raise US$50 billion, says who, says the young man [Bediako] standing in front of you? This vision and this policy is going to make it happen."

"If you ever wondered where all this money will come from, well, this is it, and it's very simple. So we decided a collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior come together for one purpose, to empower the Immigration Services of this country and create the citizenship package to monetize Ghanaian citizenship only for Africans."

"Now, I know that this vision and this idea is going to save Ghana, but it is the Phase One of it. The target is one million Africans to invest 50,000 in Ghana in exchange for Ghanaian passport. They can invest in our gold, they can invest in our oil, they can invest in our agro processing. They can invest in all the things I have told you, because Ghana will have the biggest, most booming economy, and it is going to attract Africans to come into this country, but they will also want to be a part of Ghana's legacy, and so we have to take advantage of that and raise the US$50 billion from Africans by Africans. This very policy marks a history today, because we would not need the Western world to provide for us anymore, now that we know we can raise thousand times more than they give us," he said.

"But remember, this is not only about the money. The grand agenda in this is introducing African unification. It is going to start from Ghana. We would be the first people to start the Project USA, United States of Africa, by people joining us, and we welcoming them through our borders, but also they will be investing on our land."

"See, we are about to initiate a borderless continent, and trade will come through, investment will come through, our neighbouring countries will join us. We are about to join hands, we are about to have an entangled economy that cannot be broken anymore, that cannot be separated anymore."

"See, we have been regionally separated by borders and internally we have been separated by tribes. Once we have the water connected, we are coming together by tribes, once we have the borderless continent, we are coming together by countries, this is about to end. We are going to import our talents and skills from across Africa, every where," Nana Kwame Bediako added.

"Infact, Naija, I know you are watching me in Nigeria, we are coming for you, I know, just you, Nigeria, if I decide that one million of you should invest in my country passport, you will bring the money in five days to Ghana, you will give us 50 billion more. And I promise you, we will trade in gold, in oil and we will make ourselves become successful because we are going to raise this capital amongt ourselves. So remember, when I come to power, I will be the first one to invite these Africans to truly become a part of Ghana as Africans and raise this US$50 billion." 

"Guess what, there is a Phase Two of this money raising, and it is a grand invitation of people of African descent, history will tell the rest. Now we either move forward together or we stand still separated, and it is one of my favourite pillars. 

Manifesto unveiling

The manifesto unveiling event was held in an open garden at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), with the flags of Ghana and that of the New Force Movement flying high in the background as Nana Kwame Bediako delivered his policy agenda.

Depicting himself as the right leader for Ghana, Mr Bediako, commonly known by many as Cheddar or Freedom Jacob Caesar entered the venue in grand style at about 7:30 pm, driving a tipper truck painted in the national colours, and walked majestically to convince the electorate that his policies would transform Ghana.

Wearing a black suit, the leader of the political movement, which he has named as the "New Force Movement" went through each of his 12 Pillars, including a key one he described as Apostolic Governance, explaining its significance, practicality and relevance to the transformation of Ghana.

Bediako unveiled himself as the face behind the New Force Movement late in year 2023 and has initiated moves to register it as a political party. He has only been able to secure a provisional certificate from the Electoral Commission as of now and waiting for a full certificate.

As a result, he will not be able to contest on the ticket of the New Force Movement as a political party since the filing of nominations opens next week.

He has therefore opted to contest as an independent presidential candidate.

Watch a video of the presentation in the attached video below

Nana Kwame Bediako’s 12 Pillars for Economic Growth;

Pillar 1- 16 Regional Industrial Revolution

Pillar 2- Ghana’s First Water Transportation & Sub-Regional Railway

Pillar 3- Energy City & Technology Hub

Pillar 4- Reserves Reserves Reserves

Pillar 5- National Sovereign Wealth Fund

Pillar 6- The SSNIT Revolution.

Pillar 7- Industri-Cation (Industrialization + Education) 

Pillar 8- Environmental & Human Rights Protection

Pillar 9- The “Apostolic” Government

Pillar 10- Ghana's First $50 Billion

Pillar 11- National Security and Data Protection

Pillar 12- Sports and Creative Industry

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

Follow @enochfrimpong Follow @Graphicgh

12 Pillars To Economic Freedom https://t.co/v15pDJgTAR

— Nana Kwame Bediako (@OsagyefoNKB) September 1, 2024