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NDC MP wins dual citizenship case

A group calling itself In Defense of Zabzugu said documents available to it revealed the MP has a U.S passport which contradicts the Constitution

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A dual citizenship case brought against the Member of Parliament for Zabzugu in the Northern Region on the ticket on the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been dismissed by a High Court in Accra.

Alhaji Umar Alhassan was accused by some residents in his constituency to resign for allegedly being a citizen of the United States.

A youth group said documents available to it revealed the MP has a U.S passport which contradicts the Constitution.

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Article 94 of the Constitution spells out the qualification and eligibility criteria for MPs. Nationality and age are two key qualifications for an MP.

Article 94 (2) states: "A person shall not be qualified to be a Member of Parliament if he - (a) owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana."

However, the plaintiffs, Nikimola Jacob Makinye and Moponyaw Godwin want the court to remove Alhaji Alhassan Umar from Parliament and declare the seat vacant.

They are seeking a declaration that "the defendant, who owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana, is disqualified from holding the office of Member of Parliament of Zabzugu in the Republic of Ghana."

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The plaintiffs, in their statement of claim the defendant was "convicted in the United States for a traffic offence of overspeeding."

It said the MP relocated to Ghana about eight years ago and worked at the Ministry of Communications as a management consultant.

They noted that Alhassan Umar committed perjury and must vacate the seat as the MP.

But the court ruled in favour of Alhaji Alhassan Umar and said he feels vindicated.

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According to him, it was a victory against tribal politics adding that his opponents would have to learn because "their ideas are old and people are getting fed-up."

He said "From day one it was my opponent who had lost and lost big time so this is the second victory over John Jabaah."

He stated that he had given the people of Zabzugu freedom from the hate politics of John Jabaah in the area.

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