The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Jomoro in the Western Region Dorcas Affo-Toffey has been ordered to produce documents renouncing her Ivorian citizenship.
The Sekondi High Court gave the order for the MP, Dorcas Affo-Toffey to produce the document within 10 days as proof of renunciation of her Ivorian citizenship.
The order was made as part of an ongoing case where the legitimacy of Dorcas Affo-Toffey is being challenged to hold the position of a Member of Parliament in Ghana.
It is the case of the petitioner that the Dorcas Affo-Toffey does not qualify to be an MP since at the time of her election, she was still holding an Ivorian passport.
Dorcas Affo-Toffey had told the court that she was no longer in possession of an Ivorian passport.
The court presided over by Justice Dr. Richard Osei Kyere asked for proof of renunciation for inspection by the court.
This brings the number to two legislators from the minority NDC that are being challenged in court base on their citizenship.
The NDC Member of Parliament for Assin North in the Central Region has also been sued for allegedly holding a Canadian citizenship.
The plaintiff in a suit filed before a Cape Coast High Court has alleged that the MP, James Quayson did not renounce his Canadian citizenship when he filed his nomination to contest for the Parliamentary seat.
Michael Ankomah-Nimfah, the petitioner avers that Mr. Quayson’s failure to renounce his Canadian citizenship prior to the filing of his Parliamentary nomination form with the Electoral Commission (EC) renders him not qualified to contest for Parliamentary elections in Ghana as it offends Articel 94(2)(a) of the 1992 constitution.
He avers that the respondent’s failure to renounce his Canadian citizenship meant he “owed allegiance to Canada at the time of filing his nomination and any subsequent renunciation is of no legal effect whatsoever.
His pleaded the court to declare that the filing of the parliamentary nomination form by the NDC MP while holding on to his Canadian citizenship violates the constitution and is therefore illegal, void and of no effect.
He also wants an order of the court cancelling the parliamentary election in the Assin North constituency and ordering the EC to conduct a fresh election in the area.
Again, the petitioner want the court to to place a perpetual injunction on restraining James Quayson from holding himself out as MP-elect for Assin North constituency.
Should these two cases go in the favor of the petitioners, it will go in long way to numerically reduce the strength advantage of the NDC in Parliament.
