Dual Nationality Floors Aspiring MP

....Adenta MP Declared Unopposed At Primaries

Unlike many of his colleagues in the Greater Accra Region who have lost their mantle to represent their constituents, Hon. Kwadwo Opare-Hammond has been retained unopposed as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adenta Constituency for the 2008 elections.

At the close of nominations two persons had filed, Hon. Opare-Hammond and his only challenger, Mr. Stephen Dee Larbi. But following the vetting of nominees in April, Mr. Larbi was disqualified on the grounds of dual nationality, which is contrary to Article 94(2)(a) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. It provides that, " A person shall not be qualified to be a member of Parliament if he owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana ".

In attendance at the extraordinary congress were polling station chairpersons, constituency executives and officers of the Greater Regional Branch of the NPP.

In his acceptance speech, Opare-Hammond called on all party members to bury their differences and pool their efforts together to ensure a resounding victory for him the presidential candidate of the NPP.

The NPP Regional Youth Organiser, Alhaji Yusif, charged all the polling station chairpersons to consider the acclamation of Hon.Opare-Hammond as the launch of the party's campaign in the constituency and must therefore go back to respective polling stations and work.

48-year-old Opare-Hammond is an accountant by profession and his last place of employment was Theovision International where he was the Project Manager. He holds a Master of Arts Degree in Leadership awarded by the African Centre for Theological Studies, Lagos, Nigeria. Affectionately called 'Pastor' by his colleague MPs, the Adenta MP is a Christian by faith and fellowships with the Logos Rhema Church.

Some of the Greater Accra NPP MPs who have lost their primaries include, Hon. Victor Okuley Nortey, MP for Ablekuma Central; Nii Adu Daku Mante, MP for Klottey Korle; Abraham Laryea Odai, MP for Krowor, and Ishmael Ashitey, MP for Tema East.