John Dramani Mahama, the former President of the Republic of Ghana claims the next National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration in power will make clarifications to the constitutional provision which prevents individuals with dual citizenship from attaining political seats in the country.
As stated by John Dramani Mahama, the injunction placed on the Assin North Member of Parliament from carrying out his duties as an MP, amounts to injustice and an affront to Ghana’s democracy which has deprived the constituents of representation in Parliament.
The former President made these claims while he addressed hundreds of NDC members in Tamale as part of his campaign tour in the Northern Region.
“We have seen the cardinal sin of the 4th Republic, which is the disenfranchisement of the people of SALL. For one whole term, they have not had a member of parliament. Let’s put that aside, the people of Assin North elected a person to represent them in Parliament. This government has manipulated the judiciary in such a way that they have injuncted the MP for Assin North. So even though he is the elected member, he cannot perform the duties of an MP. That is a gross injustice and an affront to our democracy.
“But I want to assure the people of Ghana and James Gyakye Quayson, who is our MP for Assin North, that when NDC comes to power, we will clarify that constitutional provision that compels them to give up their foreign citizenship before they contest elections. A country’s human resource is its best resource. We happen to have three million of our citizens abroad, they have acquired skills and different talents. Why must we have a law that bars them, when we have a dual citizenship law? We will clarify it, so they can come and stand for parliamentary seats and hold offices in Ghana, they don’t have to give up their other citizenships to be able to hold office.”
John Dramani Mahama
Moreover, he also slammed the Akufo-Addo-led-administration for Ghana’s drop in the latest press freedom index.
“This government has been an abysmal failure. It is the worst government in the history of the 4th Republic. Not only have they mismanaged our economy, but their governance record is also poor. Just recently, they released the press freedom index. Last year we fell by 30 places, this year we have fallen another 10 places down. It means that our media expression is in danger, journalists’ lives are in danger, and there are reports of torture and harassment of journalists. This used not to happen under NDC. Everybody had the freedom to express themselves under NDC. Unfortunately, those freedoms are being infringed upon by Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government.”
John Dramani Mahama
Embattled Member of Parliament for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson, is currently battling it out in court, after he was accused of holding dual citizenship prior to contesting the 2020 election. The court recently barred him from serving as an MP, until the substantive case filed against him is brought to its logical conclusion.
Mahama Calls For Unity
John Dramani Mahama has reiterated calls for unity among party supporters, ahead of the primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“Everyone has his supporters, there’s no point saying this person supported the winning team, so we will stay aside. All of us are NDC, let’s support each other after the primaries.”
John Dramani Mahama
John Mahama, who served one-term in the former President position, seeks to reclaim power, after his defeat by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in both the 2016 and 2020 general elections.
The opposition NDC is expected to hold its presidential and parliamentary elections on Saturday, May 13, which will see the party elect parliamentary candidates and a flagbearer to contest on the party’s ticket in the 2024 general elections.
READ ALSO: NDC primaries: Mahama Calls For Unity Ahead Of NDC’s May 13 Primaries
