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The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) alleges that James Gyakye Quayson, a recently elected NDC member of Parliament for the Assin North constituency, has the citizenship of Ghana and Canada.
Since then, the party has written to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting an investigation into the current citizenship status of the elected deputy.
In the letter cited by Citi NewsProcurators of the New Patriotic Party, Marfo y Asociados requested copies of his travel history and certificate of resignation before presenting his candidacy to compete as a deputy in the 2020 elections.
“We would be grateful if you provide us with the following documents at your earliest convenience,” the letter read.
The country’s constitution disapproves of any case where a member of parliament is a citizen of another country in addition to being Ghanaian.
Recent history has seen a former member of Parliament be jailed for such a crime.
In 2012, the Accra Fast Track High Court sentenced Adamu Dramani Sakande of the PNP to two years in prison after he was found guilty of false statement of charge, perjury and deceit of a public official.
His status as a deputy from Bawku Central was questioned due to his dual citizenship.
Adamu Sakande contested Bawku Central’s seat on the NPP ballot in the 2008 elections and seized the seat from Mahama Ayariga before being jailed.
On December 31, 2012, the then president, John Dramani Mahama, granted him a presidential pardon for medical reasons.
Meanwhile, a private legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu, says Assin North MP-elect James Gyakye Quayson may lose his seat if convicted of dual citizenship.
Talking to Citi NewsMartin Kpebu says he is against this, it is against the law.
“The constitution establishes that someone with dual citizenship does not qualify to be a member of Parliament, so when evidence to this effect is presented, the cause of the law may declare that the person will lose their position. But remember, this is all about producing admissible evidence in court, ”he said.
— citinewsroom
