Devant writes Ghana on Le Hunte

Former minister Devant Maharaj is asking the Ghanaian government to confirm that Robert Le Hunte revoked his citizenship in the African nation prior to his being sworn in for a second time as Public Utilities Minister.

Le Hunte's second swearing in took place at the Office of the President in St Ann's on Thursday (Independence Day). In a letter to Ghanaian Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Maharaj sais he was seeking to ascertain Le Hunte's citizenship status.

He asked Ayorkor Botchwey to confirm that Le Hunte's Ghanaian citizenship was revoked within," a mere three days and in accordance with the laws of Ghana with a renunciation certificate being issued as required." Le Hunte was first sworn in last Thursday (August 24). However his appointment was revoked on Monday (August 28) when it was discovered that he had Ghanaian citizenship. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley resumed control of the public utilities portfolio until Le Hunte's situation was rectified. The Office of the Prime Minister indicated on Monday this matter would be rectified by yesterday.

Maharaj, in his letter, also asked whether Le Hunte was afforded any special treatment by the Ghanaian government, "to expedite this process." In a separate statement, Maharaj described the second swearing in of Le Hunte as an insult to this country's democratic principles. After his swearing in, Le Hunte apologised to Rowley and the nation. Le Hunte said the blame was his and no one else's.

Recalling that Le Hunte served as executive director at HFC Bank in Ghana, Maharaj said Le Hunte should have been aware that on July 28, 2012, Ghanaian parliamentarian Adamu Daramani Sakande was sentenced to two years imprisonment by the Ghanaian courts with respect to his dual citizenship. Maharaj continued to question why Le Hunte or no one else advised Rowley or President Anthony Carmona that Le Hunte had Ghanaian citizenship before his first swearing in.

Maharaj said the public cannot trust Le Hunte and Rowley's explanation that this was "a communications glitch" does not suffice. He maintained that this was "the latest act of political incompetence" by the ruling People's National Movement.