The New Patriotic Party’s nominee for Bantama constituency, Daniel Okyem Aboagye, has stated a preference for serving jail time in the United States of America (USA) rather than in Ghanaian prisons, citing the perceived comfort of American correctional facilities.
His comments arise amidst concerns that his candidacy and potential election as Member of Parliament could breach Ghana’s electoral laws due to his dual citizenship status.
Reports indicate that the NPP in Bantama has prepared Henry Kwabena Kokofu, the former MP who lost to Mr Aboagye in the party primaries, as an alternative candidate should Aboagye fail the Electoral Commission’s vetting process.
Ghanaian law prohibits individuals with dual nationality from running for public office, a precedent underscored by the case of former Bawku Central MP Adamu Daramani Sakande, who faced legal consequences for holding dual citizenship.
In an interview with Chief Jerry Forson on Accra100.5FM, Mr Aboagye, also known as Wofa Atta, vehemently denied allegations of dual citizenship, asserting his unwavering dedication to Ghana.
Aboagye expressed his longstanding aspiration to serve as an MP in Ghana since 1994, reiterating his commitment to Ghanaian citizenship and disavowing any intent to obtain foreign nationality.
He concluded by highlighting his apprehension about potential legal consequences, indicating a preference for U.S. imprisonment over facing incarceration in Ghanaian prisons due to his perception of the conditions in American correctional facilities.
“If you want to do a risk management or backup, then there is the need for us all to sit and deliberate on the matter. Secondly, I do not have dual citizenship; I have never been a dual citizen. It is out of love for Ghana that I left my job in the United States of America to return home. Over there, I was being taking care of properly as an accountant, but due to the mismanagement of the Ghanaian economy by the NDC government, I decided to come back to Ghana to help fix the problem.
“My ambition to be a Member of Parliament in Ghana was nurtured as far back as 1994. Since that time, I have taken steps to ensure that I become an MP. I have never been a citizen of another country and I will never do that. I will not say that Americans are not good; they lead Ghana in almost everything, but the love for my country Ghana will not let me sell my citizenship.
“Do you think I want what befell Adamu Sakande to happen to me? Do you think I will leave America to come and become an MP in Ghana and later be incarcerated? I will rather prefer to violate the laws in America and be incarcerated in America than be in a Ghanaian prison because America’s prisons are just like your home. I will never do that. I am smarter than that.”