I am no more a US citizen – Accra Mayor

Accra Mayor Alfred Oko Vanderpuije has revealed that he has dropped his US citizenship effective Monday, August 31.

Vanderpuije who confirmed on Morning Starr that he had held a dual citizenship for 30 years, said he has decided to renounce his American citizenship because of his decision to contest the Ablekuma South parliamentary primaries on the ticket of the governing National Democratic Congress.

“I have held a dual citizenship for the US and Ghana for over 30 years now… but the requirement of a member of parliament is that you hold a single citizenship so I no more hold the US citizenship.

“Since Monday this week I am no more a US citizen,” he told co-host Robert Nii Arday Clegg on Starr 103.5FM Wednesday.

Article 94 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana sets out the qualification and eligibility criteria for membership of Parliament. Key among the criteria is the nationality and age qualification which requires an MP to be a Ghanaian citizen of not less than 21 years and a registered voter. Persons with dual citizenship cannot be MPs.

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."

Vanderpuije would pick nomination forms later today to contest the Ablekuma South parliamentary seat on the ticket of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

According to Vanderpuije, he has monitored activities around the constituency for several years and knows he is the right man to bring leadership to the area.

Incumbent Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South Fritz Baffour has decided not to seek another term after representing the constituency for two terms.