/ 25 February 1999

AFRICA FOR AMERICANS

GHANAIAN President Jerry Rawlings offered citizenship in the West African nation to African American descendants of African slaves on Wednesday while on a state visit to the US. “My continent is the mother, not of all continents, but humanity today,” Rawlings said at a news conference. “There is no reason why I would deny my fellow black Africans the right to enjoy the same citizenship that I enjoy as an African.” President Clinton offered his support for African Americans seeking dual citizenship with Ghana, calling it “a clever idea”. “If Ghana does this, it certainly won’t hurt in trying to get more Americans interested in Ghana, going to Ghana and contributing to Ghana’s future,” said Clinton.