Some leaders of Kumasi Zongo communities have called on the Constitution Review Committee (CRC) to make Zongo an accepted hometown for tribes such as the Hausas, Yoruba and Zabarmas whose parents and grandparents were declared Ghanaians after independence.

The leaders made the appeal at a public engagement session organised by the CRC in Kumasi last Friday to solicit views and suggestions on constitutional reforms.

The delegation included the Chief of the Fulani community, Alhaji Osman Ahmed, former Ghana Ambassador to Guinea, Ambassador Baba Sherif, and the Chairman of the Zongo Peace and Reconciliation Committee, Sheikh Mohammed Ridwan.

Sheikh Ridwan, who had earlier engaged the CRC, submitted a research paper on Citizenship and making the birthplace of non-indigenes as their hometown, which he conducted as part of his academic work at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.

Zongo as hometown

Ambassador Baba Sherif, speaking on behalf of the Zongo communities, appealed to the CRC to end long-standing concerns over identity and belonging by recognising Zongo as a legitimate hometown for its residents.

He argued that this recognition would reflect the historical and social contributions of tribes who have lived in Ghana for generations, and whose families were formally acknowledged as Ghanaians after independence.

“We are pleading with the committee to consider making Zongo an accepted hometown for our people to help remove doubts and barriers about our belonging,” he said.

The Fulani Chief, Alhaji Osman Ahmed, also lent his support to the appeal, stressing that such recognition would foster unity and reduce tensions between Zongo dwellers and other communities.

Citizenship and belonging

In his presentation, Sheikh Mohammed Ridwan outlined findings from his research on citizenship and belonging, noting that many individuals born in Zongo communities continue to face challenges in claiming their hometowns due to perceptions of being non-indigenes.

He said his research showed that these issues often result in exclusion and social stigma.

He urged the CRC to adopt a progressive approach that recognises birthplace as a legitimate marker of belonging, regardless of tribal origins.

“The Constitution must speak to the realities of our society where Ghanaians are born in Zongo and grow up with no other home but there,” he said.

Sheikh Ridwan stressed that making Zongo a recognised hometown would be a major step in addressing discrimination and strengthening national cohesion.

CRC response

The Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Prof Kwasi Prempeh, described the proposals from the Kumasi Zongo leaders as innovative and relevant to the ongoing discussions on constitutional reform.

He said the suggestion to recognise Zongo as a hometown could help end the serial discrimination and stigmatisation faced by some Ghanaians.

 “We welcome these ideas and assure you that they will be given due consideration as part of our work,” he said.

Prof Prempeh encouraged the Zongo leaders and other community groups to continue sharing their perspectives, noting that the review process was intended to capture the diverse views of citizens across the country.