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NDC MP sued over dual citizenship

Alhaji Umar Alhassan is being pressurised by some residents of his constituency to resign for allegedly being a citizen of the United States

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

Earlier, 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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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 "On 3 November, 2000 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.

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