Ayariga relishes return to Parliament

Presidential Press Secretary Mahama Ayariga has given strong indications he would contest in the event of a bye-election in the Bawku Central Constituency.

The possibility of a bye-election moved a notch higher Wednesday following a High Court decision that the Member of Parliament for the area, Adamu Dramani, should cease forthwith from holding himself out as the MP.

The ruling followed a failure on Adamu Dramani’s part to file a defence to a suit filed by a herdsman in the constituency challenging the elligibility of Adamu to contest the parliamentary seat. Adamu is accused of holding dual nationality.

The MP has already filed a stay of execution against the court’s ruling as he attempts to set it aside and clear his name of the charge.

But 24 hours after the ruling, Mr Ayariga who is in Egypt with President J.E.A. Mills to attend a Non-Aligned Movement conference said it would be “difficult for me not to contest.”

The presidential spokesperson lost to Adamu Dramani in the last parliamentary election.

“The case against him is very strong. The evidence is overwhelming,” Mr Ayariga told Joy FM presidential correspondent, Steve Anti in Egypt.

He maintained that he had strong convictions that Mr Dramani “is not a Ghanaian.”

“I have personally sighted documentation that clearly shows that he is not a Ghanaian,” Mr Ayariga insisted.

Mr Dramani told Joy FM Thursday his lawyers have already filed for the stay of execution.

The defendant is praying the Appeals Court “for leave to file a defence in order for the suit to be determined on its merit.”

Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com