Renounce your dual citizenship before we approve you – Minority Leader to Supreme Court nominee
The Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has expressed strong disapproval of the nomination of a dual citizen for the position of Supreme Court judge.
According to Dr. Forson, dual citizens are ineligible to hold key government positions, particularly as judges on the Supreme Court.
President Akufo-Addo has nominated Professor Richard Frimpong Oppong, a dual citizen, alongside Justice Sophia Essah, for the Supreme Court.
However, during the vetting on Tuesday, August 12, Dr Forson, who serves on the Appointments Committee of Parliament, argued that Prof. Oppong does not qualify to be a Supreme Court judge due to his dual citizenship.
Dr. Forson insisted that Prof. Oppong must renounce his foreign citizenship before his approval can be recommended.
“The Constitution, in Article 156(1), is clear that you would have to take an oath of allegiance, and the same Supreme Court has equated allegiance to nationality,” Dr Forson stated.
“In my view, you do not qualify, and I believe that you would need to renounce your citizenship to be eligible for the role of a Supreme Court judge.”
Adding to the debate, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Ellembelle, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, argued that it is inconsistent to disqualify the NDC MP for Assin North, Gyakye Quayson, from Parliament even after he had renounced his citizenship.
Background
Prof. Oppong, who holds dual Ghanaian-Canadian citizenship, could become the first dual citizen to sit on Ghana’s Supreme Court.
This is possible because the Supreme Court few months back ruled against sections of the Citizenship Act, allowing dual citizens to hold positions such as Chief Justice and Chief Director.
The Supreme Court declared certain sections of the Citizenship Act unconstitutional, permitting dual citizens to serve in various high-ranking positions.
The court’s decision, delivered by a majority, nullifies the sections that bar dual citizens from roles including Chief Justice, Commissioner of the Value Added Tax Service, and Chief Director of a Ministry.
The ruling effectively amends Article 289(2) of the 1992 Constitution, allowing dual citizens to be appointed to key government positions previously restricted to single citizens.
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