One of the Parliamentary Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Kumawu Constituency, Edward Kofi Osei, has confirmed his withdrawal from Sunday’s primaries.
According to the former Managing Director of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), his decision stems from concerns raised by leadership of the party over his dual citizenship status.
“I resigned to bring a sense of calmness to Kumawu and the party. I am a citizen of Ghana and also holds a United States passport,” he told a section of the media on Wednesday, April 19 at Kumawu.
Lawyer Edward Osei participated in the 2020 NPP primaries in Kumawu but lost to the late Philip Basoah despite holding dual citizenship.
“During the 2020 primaries, I was vetted and passed successfully even though I had US passport,” he said.
“This was possible because, under our Supreme Court interpretation of Article 94(2a) of the Ghana constitution which talks about owning an allegiance to another country. Republic V High Court Ex Parte Zanetor Rawlings affirmed that a person must qualify as an MP the time they submit their form to the EC.
“When the EC has not opened nomination, a person cannot be disqualified. In 2020, the elections were held in June 20, 2020, and the EC opened nominations in October 9, 2020, a whole five months lag. So If I had won the primaries in 2020 there will have been a whole five months to prove my eligibility in 2020,” he stated.
By William Evans-Nkum|editors.3news.com|Ghana
