Renounce your Canadian citizenship - Ato Forson to supreme court nominee

Ghana's Minority leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has expressed reservations about the nomination of a dual citizen to the Supreme Court, underlining that such individuals should not be eligible for critical governmental positions, particularly as judges on the highest court.

President Akufo-Addo has nominated Professor Richard Frimpong Oppong, a dual citizen, and Justice Sophia Essah to the Supreme Court.

However, during the vetting process on Tuesday, August 12, Dr. Forson, a member of the Parliamentary Appointments Committee, contended that Prof. Oppong's dual citizenship precludes 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."

Prof. Oppong, who has dual Ghanaian-Canadian citizenship, might become Ghana's first dual citizen to serve on the Supreme Court. This follows a recent Supreme Court decision that overturned some limitations of the Citizenship Act, allowing dual citizens to assume posts like Chief Justice and Chief Director.

Source: Lead News Online