The appointment of Korean-born Ghanaian, Kojo Choi, by President John Dramani Mahama as Ghana’s chif diplomat to South Korea has brought to light the issue of national identity and the eligibility of dual citizenship holders to occupy public office.
It appears that Kojo Choi would not be the first person of Korean descent, but rather a Ghanaian by naturalization, to receive a government appointment.
Dr Gobind Nankani, an economist of Indian descent and a Ghanaian citizen, was appointed by the late former President Professor John Evans Atta Mills as a senior advisor on the government’s economic management team.
Dr Nankani held a PhD and MA in Economics from Harvard University, as well as a BSc from the University of Ghana.
He had an illustrious 30-year career at the World Bank, where he held senior economist and management positions across multiple regions and sectors.
He also served as Executive Director of the International Growth Centre in London.
In 2008, the government of Ghana honored him with the Order of the Volta for his outstanding contributions to social development and financial policy in Ghana and across Africa.
Dr Nankani was also the Vice-President of the World Bank’s Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network and a former President of Global Development Network (GDN).
He died in September 2011 at the age of 64.
MAG/AE
Meanwhile, watch what Jane Reindorf Osei says about Ghana’s readiness for tourism investment:
