The Deputy Attorney-General (A-G) and Minister for Justice, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah says the nomination of a dual citizen as a Supreme Court judge does not violate the laws of Ghana.
According to him, the Supreme Court has ruled against sections of the Citizenship Act, allowing dual citizens to hold key positions.
Speaking to JoyNews on Wednesday, August 13, the Deputy AG said “It’s very clear that under our laws, you can be a dual citizen, but still be a judge of the Supreme Court. In April this year, a judgment was delivered to that effect.
“So the nominee who came yesterday is qualified under our laws, not to the fact that he owes a Canadian citizenship, but for the judgment in April, he would have qualified to be a Supreme Court judge in Ghana.”
His comment comes after the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson expressed strong disapproval of the nomination of Professor Richard Frimpong Oppong, 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.
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, insisting 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.”
When asked what guarantees that the Supreme Court nominee will deliver justice if approved, Mr. Tuah-Yeboah expressed confidence in Prof. Oppong’s abilities.
He said that although Prof. Oppong has not practiced as a lawyer, he is highly knowledgeable and capable of performing the duties of a judge diligently.
“Yesterday you listened to him, watched him – an excellent professor. He knows his stuff, in fact, we were in the law school together, even though he’s one year behind me, and I know his worth.
“In terms of his ability to deliver as a judge, I can assure you he has every quality that any judge should possess in the dispensation of justice, and I trust him that he will do his job as a judge,” he added.
