Dr Lawrence Tetteh, the Chaplain of the Ghana Christian Council of United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland, Monday appealed to the Prince of Wales and Head of the Commonwealth, to use his high office to push for the regularisation of the stay of the law-abiding Ghanaians in the UK.
This, the President of the Worldwide Miracle Outreach said, would enable them to work in peace and pay the requisite taxes and levies to the Government to support the growth of the British economy and cement the solidarity within the Commonwealth Community.
Currently, he said, there were more than 250,000 Ghanaians resident in the UK; with many of them lacking the resident permits to work.
The world renowned evangelist recalled that the last time such an amnesty was granted was during the tenure Prime Minister Tony Blair; and expressed disappointment that since then the gesture had not been extended.
“Some Ghanaians have lived in the UK for more than 15 years without resident permits but they are peaceful and hardworking, which are very good attributes for nation building,” he said.
“With the advent of Brexit, we think this is an opportune time for another amnesty and we are hopeful the Head of the Commonwealth can drive this successfully.”
Dr Tetteh, who also an Honorary Canon of the Anglican Church, made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, in Accra, at the sideline of a public lecture, addressed by Prince Charles, at the Accra International Conference Centre.
“We’re fortunate that some of us who have lived in the UK for many years have permanent resident permits or citizenship; but we need to fight for those who don’t have regular status because they are all playing their roles in diverse ways towards the growth of the British economy and a peaceful society,” he said.
Source: GNA