Former Member of Parliament for Upper Denkyira West, Benjamin Kofi Ayeh and seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., clashed on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo" over matters concerning the embattled former Member of Parliament for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson.
A Supreme Court verdict rendered the election of James Gyakye Quayson as MP null and void, hence resulting in a by-election to elect a new Member of Parliament for the constituency.
The Assin North by-election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 27, 2023.
Mr. Gyakye Quayson was disqualified from Parliament following a suit against him that said he hadn't fully completed the process of renouncing his dual citizenship at the time he was elected into Parliament; this is because he hadn't received his certificate of renunciation yet.
Discussing the matter, Kwesi Pratt and Ben Aryeh picked a lengthy argument over whether or not Mr. Gyakye Quayson not receiving his certificate from the Canadian government meant he was still holding his dual citizenship for which reason he can no longer hold himself as a Parliamentarian.
Mr. Pratt argued that "no country in the world can impose citizenship on anybody", therefore the mere fact that Mr. Gyakye Quayson had commenced the processes to renouncing his dual citizenship is indicative enough to pass for acceptance of his renunciation.
He described the issuing of certificate as only an evidence to prove Mr. Gyakye Quayson had renounced his dual citizenship and that not receiving his certificate yet doesn't mean he still holds dual citizenship.
But Hon. Ben Aryeh disputed Mr. Pratt's assertions, arguing that "the renunciation is also not by word of mouth. There is a process that you have to go through legally".
Mr. Aryeh held that the certificate is not only a proof but a legal requirement, as a result, Mr. Gyakye Quayson failing to wait for it before contesting the parliamentary seat meant he hadn't completed the process of giving up his dual citizenship yet.
"It's a part of the process; don't just say it's evidence. It is part of the process, without that it means the process is not complete. It's as simple as that," he replied.
Kwesi Pratt and Ben Aryeh continued their back and forth arguments and matters heated up with Hon. Aryeh telling Mr. Pratt that he lacked understanding of the facts relating to how a country renounces one's dual citizenship.
"You don't understand it but will also not humble yourself to learn", he reprimanded Mr. Pratt who felt slighted by this comment.
"I'm not going to tolerate any disrespect from you," Kwesi Pratt fired back at the MP.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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I'm not surprise at Mr Pratt's position and that account for the nation's low intangible assets ratings. We don't value what we sign for. Our actions are at variance with our pronouncements and words. More so, we all know that Mr. Pratt is a stomach journalist, full of arrogance when he fail to defend his position. Mr. Pratt, go to the marines with your hollow argument. The ruling of the Supreme Court is the true and logical interpretation of the Constitution of the republic of Ghana. You want to make a mockery of our Supreme Court internationally as happened in 2013 during the Presidential Election Petition Judgement, making Ghana a sh!thole country to the ***barred word*** degree.
If you going through the process to naturalized for a country say US or Canada, you first have to apply and go through the background checks, be interviewed and scheduled for oat ceremony where your certificate of citizenship is signed and given to the individual. When you've undergone all the process and your certificate of naturalization is not issued to you you cannot consider yourself a citizen of that country and so it is when renouncing. Until the final process is complete you cannot say it has been renounced. Kwasi Pratt is being mischievous, he knows the truth but he is letting politics blind his integrity.
Kwesi Pratt is being “patapaa”. He knows the truth but because of politics, he wants to pretend. He is very dangerous for Ghana’s development. Without the certification, the renunciation cannot be said to have been completed. It’s simple as that because the application can be rejected when you are found of trying to hide from a responsibility.
What is wrong with this Kwesi Flatt man. Why do yo think your views must always stand. Can you apply to be a citizen of Canada and without going through due process to be accepted or rejected you go about saying you hold Canadian citizenship? In the same vain can you apply to renounce your citizenship of another country and without any letter of acceptance or rejection you go about saying you are no longer a citizen of hat country. In your view is anything to go by then Gkekye Quayson shouldn't have applied to renounce his Canadian citizenship in the first he should have gone ahead . Ayer is right. You don't understand but you will not humble yourself to learn