Assin North's former National Democratic Congress (NDC) lawmaker, James Gyakye Quayson, finds himself entangled in legal troubles as he returns to court, facing criminal charges.
Quayson is confronted with five counts of criminal offences, including deceit of a public officer, forgery of a passport or travel certificate, knowingly making a false statutory declaration, perjury, and false declaration for office.
The Supreme Court recently declared his election unconstitutional, resulting in the removal of his parliamentary position.
In a unanimous decision delivered by a seven-member panel on Wednesday morning (May 17, 2023), the Supreme Court mandated Parliament to expunge Quayson's name from the list of Members of Parliament.
The court concluded that Quayson's election violated Article 94(2)(a) of the 1992 Constitution due to his failure to renounce his dual citizenship before filing for the elections.
Consequently, the court deemed Quayson's filing to contest, the Electoral Commission's decision to allow his candidacy, and his subsequent swearing-in as an MP in Parliament as unconstitutional, null, and void.
Presided over by Justice Jones Dotse, the seven-member panel included Justices Nene Amegatcher, Mariama Owusu, Gertrude Torkornoo, Prof Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi, and Barbara Ackah-Ayensu.
The court has announced that the full reasons behind its decision will be submitted to the court's registry by June 7, 2023.
