The Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has voiced strong opposition to the nomination of Professor Richard Frimpong Oppong, a dual citizen, for a position on Ghana’s Supreme Court.
Dr. Forson, speaking during the vetting process on Tuesday, August 12, insisted that individuals holding dual citizenship should not be considered for such critical governmental roles.
“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,” he stated, citing Article 156(1) of the Constitution which he interprets as requiring a single allegiance.
President Akufo-Addo recently nominated Prof. Oppong, who holds both Ghanaian and Canadian citizenship, alongside Justice Sophia Essah for the Supreme Court.
The nomination has sparked a debate over the eligibility of dual citizens to serve on the highest court.
Dr. Forson, who is also a member of the Parliamentary Appointments Committee, stressed that Prof. Oppong’s dual citizenship is a disqualifying factor unless he renounces his foreign nationality.
This stance reflects broader concerns about the loyalty and allegiance of public officials who hold citizenship in more than one country.
Adding to the controversy, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Ellembelle, pointed out the inconsistency in the treatment of dual citizens, referencing the disqualification of the NDC MP for Assin North, Gyakye Quayson, from Parliament despite his renunciation of foreign citizenship.
Prof. Oppong’s potential appointment marks a moment in Ghanaian legal history, especially after a recent Supreme Court ruling that overturned parts of the Citizenship Act, allowing dual citizens to hold certain key governmental positions.
This ruling has intensified the debate, with critics like Dr. Forson arguing that such appointments could compromise the integrity of the judiciary.
