American R&B artiste of iconic New Edition group Ronnie DeVoe receive Ghana citizenship wit 149 odas

American R&B singer Ronnie DeVoe wey compose di popular 'cool it down' song wit di New Edition group, don officially get Ghana citizenship.

Di 58-year-old singer and dancer togeda wit im wife Shamari DeVoe take dia oath of citizenship for one event for Accra to officially swear dem in as Ghanaians.

Di superstar and im wife be part of 150 pipo wey collect dia Ghana citizenship as dem dey "reconnect wit dia roots".

Ghana vice president Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang wey attend di event tok say "Ghana continue to be home for di global African community."

"Dis dey mark di renewal and moral reconnection of our pipo, wey be separated by distance but not by identity,"di VP tok.

Prof Opoku-Agyemang tok say Ghana dey see di diaspora as di 17th region of di kontri, na so dem dey strengthen di bind between Ghana and Africans around di world.

"We dey create kontri wia Africans everywia for dis world fit re-connect wit dia roots and contribute to national and continental development."

Di latest confirmation of citizenship for dis 150 diasporans dey happun exactly two years afta American singer and songwriter - Stevie Wonder also become Ghana citizen.

Di 76-year-old musician tok at di time say "to become Ghanaian for my birthday na amazing tin."

Stevie Wonder wey dem born for America, get roots for Ghana – wey im decide to relocate to Ghana afta im suffer "racial injustice".

For 20 November 2024, di president at dat time, Nana Akufo-Addo welcome 524 diasporans to Ghana wey im ask dem to "unite and contribute to di development of d kontri."

Di swearing-in ceremony at dat time be part of di govment "Beyond di return" programme wey dem launch for 2019 to mark 400 years since dem carry di first African to America.

Di "Beyond di return" project dey allow Africans to unite wit dia brothers and sisters for di diaspora and connect wit dia heritage.

Profile of Ronnie DeVoe of 'New Edition' and 'Bell Biv DeVoe' fame

Di 58-year-old musician wey enta Ghana wit im wife – Shamari and dia pickins during Ghana's independence anniversary say dem be happy to "connect wit di pipo as black pipo."

Im wife Shamari tok for her Instagram say "moments like dis don dey remind us say di world be one big family."

Ronnie (im real name be Ronald Boyd DeVoe Jnr) bin join di New Edition group for 1982 as im become di second-to last member bifor dem blow well well for di mainstream music industry.

Di group 'New Edition' dey popular for many hit songs and studio albums.

In fact Ronnie be part of 11 albums for im career wit 'New Edition' (seven albums) and 'Bell Biv DeVoe (four albums).

Wit hit songs like 'Cool it down', 'Candy Girl', 'I'm still in love wit you', 'Poison' and 'Hit me off', di group dominate di R&B music scene for many years.

Di 58-year-old still dey active wit music as dem still dey tour di world wit dia music as Bell Biv DeVoe (BBD) group - wey dem bin form from di first group 'New Edition'.

As a group, dem bin win many awards – BET, American music awards, Soul Train awards among odas for dia ova 40-year-career.

"I dey grateful to God say we still dey relevant for dis industry afta all dis years," di musician and entrepreneur tok for Marriage & Money podcast.

Ronnie DeVoe apart from music, get real estate investment for America, wey im wife Shamari be nurse.

Inside di interview, di couple confam say apart from real estate investment for America, dem also get properties for Dubai, wey dem dey plan to get more for oda kontris.

During dia 10-day visit to Ghana di couple go visit many tourist sites and vibe wit di pipo as part of dia new status as Ghanaians.

Ronnie go perform for some events during di period and use di opportunity to celebrate 20 years of marriage wit im wife Shamari for Ghana.

Di oda ova 148 new Ghana citizens wey dem swear dia oath of allegiance, say dem dey committed to dia new status, wey dem see dis as "big homecoming to dia ancestral roots."

Diaspora Affairs director for di office of di president oga Kofi Okyere-Darko tok say di future of Africa no go dey set without di contribution of di diaspora.

"Ghana no dey welcome strangers, Ghana dey receive family; dis door wey you enta, be door of belonging," oga Okyere-Darko tok during di swearing-in.

Im add say as new citizens, "your decision to join us dey show say you dey trust us, your heritage, opportunity and shared destiny, we no dey take dat lightly."