Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has revealed that the case involving former Assin North legislator, James Gyakye Quayson, will go down in the history of Ghanaian democracy as one of the most brazen manipulation of the country’s judicial system ever.
According to him, the NPP administration has gone to “indecent lengths” to rob the people of Assin North of parliamentary representation. He revealed that the reason behind the decision of the NPP is to gain an advantage in what has essentially been a hung Parliament.
Mr Mahama stated that he will be joining James Gyakye Quayson today, June 17, 2023, to support his campaign for Justice and Development for the people of the Assin North Constituency.
“The James Quayson case will go down in the history of Ghanaian democracy as one of the most brazen manipulation of our judicial system ever.”
John Dramani Mahama
Furthermore, Mr Mahama stated that he firmly believes and trust the people of Assin North to right the wrong done to them and James Quayson by electing him once again as Member of Parliament for the constituency.
“To the people of Assin North, I thank you for the continuous love and support you’ve shown James Quayson and the NDC, despite the last minute vote buying gimmicks being employed by the NPP.”
John Dramani Mahama
Gyakye Quayson’s case to be heard on a daily basis
Meanwhile, the perjury and forgery trial against James Gyakye Quayson will be heard on 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, turned down a request by Quayson’s lawyer, Justin Terriwajjah, which sought to have the trial continued after the Assin North by-election slated for June 27, 2023.
In court on Friday, June 16, his lawyers moved a motion for Mr Quayson’s case to be continued after the June 20 hearing to immediately after June 27. However, the request was rejected by the Court presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh.
Justin Terriwajjah, who was holding brief for Tsatsu Tsikata sought to have the trial continued immediately after the Assin North by-election slated for June 27, 2023.
He argued that his client was contesting in the national duty in a bid to represent the people of Assin North in parliament and therefore the need to continue the trial after the by-election for Quayson to have a leveled playing field in the campaign.
“The Supreme Court on 17 May declared his election unconstitutional and asked that his name be expunged from the records of parliament. The by election is scheduled for 27th June and he is one of the candidates. This is a national assignment. We are praying that the 20th June date can be shifted to immediately after the 27th June to give him a fair chance to contest.”
Justin Terriwajjah
Following this, the request was however opposed by the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, who contended that, nobody had given Quayson a national assignment.
Mr Dame argued that considering the charges leveled against Quayson, he could be convicted and jailed if found guilty. He further prayed the court to conduct the case on day-to-day basis, beginning June 20.
“I am constrained to talk because of what my learned counsel said. He is introducing political matters which are extraneous. He is saying the accused is involved in a national assignment. Who gave him a national assignment? It is a selfish quest to contest in this election knowing very well that there is a criminal case pending before him. The Supreme Court has declared your (Quayson) election unconstitutional and you know that he is facing a criminal prosecution and he could be convicted and jailed.”
Godfred Yeboah Dame
James Quayson, then Member of Parliament for Assin North, had his status declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court on May 17, 2023 following a petition from Michael Ankomah Ninfah. He is facing five criminal charges including perjury and forgery but had declared his intentions to contest in the bye-elections set for June 27 following the Supreme Court judgement.
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