The next National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration would modify the constitution to allow dual citizens to attend Parliament, according to former president John Dramani Mahama.
When the NDC takes office, we'll clarify the constitutional clause requiring dual citizens to renounce their foreign citizenship in order to run for office.
"A nation's finest resource is its people, and Ghana has roughly three million residents living abroad who have gained experience and developed a variety of abilities." And why should we have a rule stating that dual citizenship must be renounced in order to serve as an MP [Member of Parliament] in Ghana when we already have dual citizenship?
According to the former president, the ban on Gyekye Quayson, the member of parliament for Assin North, from carrying out his duties as a member of parliament amounts to "injustice and an affront to Ghana's democracy, which has deprived the constituents of representation in Parliament."
As part of his campaign visit to the Northern Region, he made these remarks to NDC members in Tamale.
"We have witnessed the 4th Republic's fundamental sin—the disenfranchisement of the SALL people." They have been without a member of parliament for a whole term. Leave that aside; the residents of Assin North chose someone to serve as their representative in Parliament. This administration has had such an influence on the courts that they have ejected the Assiniboine North MP. Therefore, although he is an elected member, he is unable to carry out MP duties. That is a heinous injustice and a betrayal of our democratic process.
"However, I want to reassure the Ghanaian people and James Gyakye Quayson, our Assin North MP, that when the NDC takes office, we will explain the constitutional clause requiring them to renounce their foreign citizenship before running for office." The finest resource for a nation is its people. Three million of our countrymen reside overseas, where they have developed a variety of abilities and skills. Why do we need a law banning them when we already have one prohibiting dual citizenship?
"We would make it clear so people may come to Ghana and run for parliamentary seats and occupy office without having to renounce their previous citizenships," he promised.
"This government has failed miserably." It is the worst administration in the Fourth Republic's history. They have not only mishandled our economy, but they also have a dismal track record in government. They just recently published an index of press freedom. We dropped 30 positions last year, and this year we have dropped another 10 positions. It indicates that the freedom of our press is in jeopardy, that journalists' lives are in peril, and that there have been instances of journalistic torture and harassment. Previously, under NDC, this did not occur.
Previously, under NDC, this did not occur. Under the NDC, everyone was free to express themselves. Unfortunately, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration is restricting such liberties, as Mr. Mahama criticized.
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