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Sam Pee Yalley, who served as the Ambassador to India during John Mahama’s administration, has accused Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia of holding both a Ghanaian and a British passport, which he claims violates the constitution. Yalley made these allegations during a discussion on Radio XYZ on June 8, 2023. He argued records show Bawumia possesses dual citizenship and did not renounce his British citizenship before assuming the role of Vice President of Ghana in 2017.
Mr. Yalley further argued records showed that Bawumia’s previous position at the Bank of Ghana in London suggests he held British citizenship as early as 2009 before being brought to Ghana by former President Kufuor.
Yalley emphasized that since the Supreme Court has ruled that individuals with dual citizenship cannot serve as members of parliament, the same legal action should be taken against Bawumia, similar to the case of James Gyakye Quayson. The Supreme Court recently nullified the election of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Assin North, as he had not wholly renounced his Canadian citizenship when he filed his nomination with the Electoral Commission. A by-election for the Assin North constituency has been scheduled for June 27, 2023.
It is important to note that holding dual citizenship is not illegal. Still, in Ghana, certain sensitive positions require individuals to renounce their citizenship of any other country before assuming those roles. These exclusive positions for mono citizens, as outlined by the Ghanaian constitution, include Ambassadors or High Commissioners, the Secretary to the Cabinet, the Chief of Defence Staff or any Service Chief, the Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner of Customs, Excise and Preventive Service, the Director of Immigration Service, any office specified by an Act of Parliament, and the President and Vice President.
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Source: Omanghana.com
