By: Ama Gyamfuah
Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has expressed concern about the nomination of a dual citizen to the Supreme Court.
He argues that individuals with dual citizenship should not be eligible for crucial government roles, particularly judges on the highest court.
President Akufo-Addo recently nominated Professor Richard Frimpong Oppong, a dual citizen, along with others to the Supreme Court
However, during the vetting process on Tuesday, August 12, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, a member of the Parliamentary Appointments Committee, argued that Professor Oppong’s dual citizenship disqualifies him from serving on the Supreme Court.
Dr. Forson asserted that Prof. Oppong must relinquish his foreign citizenship before being considered for the role. “The Constitution, in Article 156(1), clearly requires an oath of allegiance, which the Supreme Court has interpreted as tied to nationality,” Dr. Forson explained. “In my view, you do not qualify, and I believe you must renounce your citizenship to be eligible for the position of a Supreme Court judge.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Ellembelle, joined the discussion by pointing out the inconsistency of disqualifying NDC MP Gyakye Quayson from Parliament despite renuncing his foreign citizenship.
Professor Oppong, a dual Ghanaian-Canadian citizen, may become the first dual citizen to join Ghana’s Supreme Court. This development follows a recent Supreme Court ruling that invalidated certain provisions of the Citizenship Act, allowing dual citizens to assume roles such as Chief Justice and Chief Director.
The Supreme Court’s majority ruling invalidated parts of the Citizenship Act that had previously barred dual citizens from holding significant government positions, including Chief Justice, Commissioner of the Value Added Tax Service, and Chief Director of a Ministry.