James Gyakye Quayson in 2020 won the Assin North seat from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) with overreliance on his family name and not through his own effort, Majority Leader Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu argues
According to him, the sacked lawmaker seeking to re-enter parliament through the June 27, 2023 by-election, heavily dwelt on his family name to win the 2020 parliamentary elections and not on his own effort.
“Quayson is from a family where his father was once an MP in the area. So he dwelt on the image of his family to win. Though he came down from Canada where he lives, he dwelt on his father’s name his popularity and the work he did there. It was based on these reasons he was elected”, he claimed.
The Minister for Parliamentary on Kumasi-based Angel FM monitored by MyNewsGH.com stressed “When we talk of works of an MP, he would have been out of the system long ago”.
In the 2020 Parliamentary elections, Mr James Gyakye Quayson polled total votes of 17490 representing 52.2 % of the total votes cast while the NPP’s Abena Durowaa Mansah polled 1493 representing 44.8%.
James Gyakye Quayson’s trial to be heard on a daily basis
Mr James Gyakye Quayson would have to appear before court as the perjury and forgery trial against him would be heard on a day-to-day basis beginning Tuesday, June 20, 2023, the High Court has ruled.
This comes after the court presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh, had turned down a prayer by Quayson’s lawyer, Justin Terriwajjah which sought to have the trial continued after the Assin North by-election slated for June 27, 2023
What do we know about Mr Gyakye Quayson’s court case so far?
Mr Quayson’s parliamentary membership was revoked after the Supreme Court invalidated his election in the 2020 polls because, according to the Court, he owed allegiance to another country, Canada.
His legal challenges began when a group petitioned the Electoral Commission in the Central Region to disqualify Mr Quayson, claiming that he owed allegiance to Canada.
The Supreme Court however in a unanimous decision ruled that Mr. Quayson was not qualified at the time of filing his nomination forms.
It further held that the EC allowing him to contest when he had not shown evidence of renunciation of his citizenship of Canada is unconstitutional.
It further declared that his election was unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.
His swearing-in was equally declared to be unconstitutional with Parliament ordered to expunge his name from its records.
Mr Gyakye Quayson is currently facing criminal charges in court and found guilty, Mr Quayson could face 10 years in prison in hard labour.