[2] Those who acquire nationality at birth include: Naturalisation can be granted to persons who have resided in the territory for a sufficient period of time to confirm they understand the customs and traditions of the society and speak a language indigenous to Ghana.

[9] General provisions are that applicants have good character and conduct, as supported by witness statements of two attorneys or public officials; and are able to contribute to the development and progress of the nation.

[17] Persons who serve in public office or high administration in the diplomatic, judiciary, legislature, or security services are typically barred from holding other nationalities, and the president must be a Ghanaian by birth.

[19] In 1481, the Portuguese, who had been settling in Morocco since 1415, decided to build a fortress and trading station, São Jorge da Mina (now Elmina Castle) on the coast of what is now Ghana, where they had a presence since 1471.

[24] In the late seventeenth century, the Ashanti Empire began conquering local kingdoms, expanding to engage in trade and specifically in gold.

Male members of various villages swore an oath of allegiance to the Asante Hene (High King), who in exchange for their loyalty and obedience, conferred privileges in the society.

The Asante Hene controlled all of the land within the empire and distributed it according to the social hierarchy in recognition for services rendered.

Each territory had a designated elder who was in charge of military organisation and all adult male members of each district were required to serve in the unit.

[32] The chieftain controlled inhabitants in his territory, but had only nominal authority over foreigners or those with affiliations to other chiefs, as well as their wives and children.

[33] The Fante Confederacy expanded in the coastal areas from the seventeenth century, gaining control over rival kingdoms.

[35] Initially, the title had referred to the commander-in-chief of the military, but as the society developed, command of the army later passed to other individuals and the brafo served as a head of state.

[37] In addition, priests and local governing officials, known as Caboceers administrated their districts and were involved in the development of national policies.

[40] To maintain authority and allegiance of the inhabitants of the states in the confederacy, the leadership distributed wealth to both attract and reward loyal subjects.

[42] Unable to secure an acceptable compromise, the government decided to establish a protectorate to preserve British trade in the area.

As a result of Germany's losses in World War I, the League of Nations awarded a mandate to Britain over British Togoland in 1922.

[59] The uniform law, which went into effect on 1 January 1915, required a married woman to derive her nationality from her spouse, meaning if he was British, she was also, and if he was foreign, so was she.

[62] The statute reiterated common law provisions for natural-born persons born within the realm on or after the effective date.

[63] For those born abroad on or after the effective date, legitimacy was still required, and could only be derived by a child from a British father (one generation), who was natural-born or naturalised.

[66] Because of a rise in statelessness, a woman who did not automatically acquire her husband's nationality upon marriage or upon his naturalisation in another country, did not lose their British status after 1933.

[67] The 1943 revision allowed a child born abroad at any time to be a British national by descent if the Secretary of State agreed to register the birth.

[70][71] When Britain extended this status over a territory, it took responsibility for both internal and external administration, including defense and foreign relations.

[74][75] Until 1934, when the British Protected Persons Order was drafted, the status of BPP was not statutory, but rather granted at the prerogative of the monarch.

[78] Under the terms of the British Nationality Act 1948, BPPs of the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast Protectorate status did not change.

The British Act allowed persons who had not become nationals of Ghana because they were naturalised or registered prior to independence or because they were not a child of a Ghanaian father or grandfather to retain their status as a BPP or CUKC.