The Supreme Court has restrained Mr. James Gyakye Quayson from holding himself as the Assin North Member of Parliament.
Following the 5:2 majority decision on Wednesday, 13th April, 2022, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Dame said, the embattled Assin North Member of Parliament James Gyekye Quayson must suffer the fate of former New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Bawku Central Adamu Dramani Sakende.
The late Bawku MP was sentenced to two years imprisonment after he was found guilty of false declaration of office, perjury and deceiving a public officer.
John Mahama speaks on Supreme Court’s ruling against James Gyakye Quayson
Many Ghanaians after the statement made by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice begin comparing the case of Adamu Sakande and James Gyakye Quayson.
Some NDC commentators described the Godfred Dame as either naive or plays pure partisan politics with the cases of Adamu Sakande and James Gyakye Quayson.
[Full Document]: Supreme Court rulling on Assin North MP James Gyakye Quayson
With the available records, some National Democratic Congress communicators believe that, Adamu Sakande could go to jail, but Hon. James Gyakye Quayson can never be jailed.
They argued that, the embattled Assin North MP cannot go to jail. At worst he can lose his membership in parliament.
The late Adamu Sakande was caught holding a dual citizenship when he was already in parliament. He was in parliament even though he had not renounced his UK citizenship.
James Gyakye Quayson responds to Supreme Court’s ruling
He was then taken to court by a constituent, Sumaila Bielbiel , the cattle rearer. Whiles in court, it was reported that, he forged documents to conceal his dual citizenship.
Subsequently, he was found out and sentenced to two years imprisonment. Adamu Sakande was found guilty of false declaration of office, perjury and deceiving a public officer. “He was sentenced on three counts of perjury, false declaration and deceit of a public officer.”
Hon. James Gyakye Quayson on the other hand, renounced his Canadian citizenship before his elections as the Member of Parliament of Assin North Constituency.
The matter in contention is whether he should have renounced it before parliamentary nominations or after. A Constituent took the matter to Electoral Commission for determination. Upon careful scrutiny of his documents, EC was satisfied that he was qualified to contest the seat.
Subsequently, he won the seat with over 3,305 votes difference. The case was then reactivated in High Court NY the plaintiff and succeeded in declaring his elections as invalid.
The Cape Coast High court nullified his elections. No where in the case, he was accused of perjury, false declaration and deceit of public officer.
Hon. James Gyakye Quayson went to appeal court to challenge the ruling. In the meantime, he still held himself as member of parliament for Assin North Constituency.
According to NDC, this whole manipulation started when it was clear to NPP that, they did not have the numbers to elect the Speaker of Parliament.
NDC believes that, it was therefore apt when Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata said that it is a forum shopping and manipulation of judiciary process.
The party explained that, this is nothing but pure manipulation of the judiciary process to reduce the numbers of NDC Caucus in parliament.
SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh
