Stevie Wonder, a.k.a. the renowned American singer-songwriter Stevland Morris, has revealed his ties to Ghana.
He claims that it began when he first made plans to travel to the West African country in the 1970s.
Wonder made the following statement in his first interview with the BBC following his award of Ghanaian citizenship: “I have talked about being in Ghana for years; I started talking about it in 1973.
He emphasised, “I sensed the essence of it when I first came, as if I had been here before and I said this is where I need to be.
The new citizen of Ghana continued, “My message is, people, let’s join together for the goodness of our culture, for the goodness of all cultures, and for the kindness of the globe.
On Monday, May 13, 2024, he took the Oath of Allegiance and received his Certificate of Citizenship, making him a citizen of Ghana.
An emotional Stevie Wonder swore his allegiance to Ghana in a video from the ceremony, which took place at the Office of the President of Ghana. “I, Stevland Morris, do hereby solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and assert that I will be obedient to the Republic of Ghana and bear true loyalty to it.
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And I promise to uphold, safeguard, and defend the Republic of Ghana’s Constitution.” So help me, God,” he said again, echoing the judge overseeing the proceedings.
The iconic artist was greeted with a standing ovation from the Jubilee House audience as he swore loyalty to Ghana. Stevie Wonder was given his Ghanaian passport and Certificate of Citizenship by Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Following the presentation of the paperwork, Akufo-Addo praised the late musician and extended a warm welcome to him in Ghana.
