Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the deputy Minority Leader in parliament has stated that James Gyakye Quayson’s victory in the Assin North by-election on June 27 was a resounding victory for Ghana’s democracy.
The Ellembelle lawmaker said in a statement following Mr. Quayson’s swearing-in on Tuesday, July 4, that the decent people of Assin North, who had been denied representation for the last two years, will finally have a voice in parliament thanks to Hon. James Gyakye Quayson.
“The voices and interests of the constituents will be trumpeted, debated, and most importantly considered in the decision-making process. This milestone achieved is not only a win for the people of Assin North but also a victory for our democracy which was apparently on the edge of a precipice.”
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah
“Congratulations once again to Hon.James Gyakye Quayson,” he tweeted.
James Gyakye Quayson took the oaths of allegiance and membership in parliament, which were delivered by Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of parliament.
Numerous luminaries attended the ceremony and were seated in the Public Gallery. 2024 Presidential candidate for the NDC, John Dramani Mahama, who is also a former House member was accompanied by NDC leaders and previous government representatives to parliament to witness the occasion.
Chiefs from Assin North were present in the House to witness the ceremony, along with members of the clergy. After winning the by-election on June 27, Mr. Gyakye Quayson was sworn in today. He won a seat he has held since 2021 by defeating Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Bernice Enyonam Sefenu of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG).
Speaker Counsels Gyakye Quayson
The newly sworn-in Member of Parliament for Assin North Constituency has received a warning from Speaker of the House Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin to follow the law.
The Speaker counseled Mr. Gyakye Quayson to stand up for everyone in his contituency, even those who did not cast a ballot on Tuesday.
“You represent all those who voted for you and those who voted against you and even those who did not vote. So, you represent HE the President to represent all the people of Ghana.”
Alaban Bagbin
He cautioned Gyakye Quayson not to flout Parliament’s norms and regulations because doing so would jeopardize his position. The Speaker also argued forcefully in favor of his viewpoint by asserting that Ghana clearly practices selective justice.
On the contentious topic of selective justice, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, and the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, each presented opposing viewpoints on Tuesday, July 4.
The two spoke following James Gyakye Quayson’s oath of office on July 4, although they did not specifically mention the High Court trial that is currently underway. After Speaker Bagbin gave the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Member of Parliament, the House leadership was consequently given the chance to make its remarks.
The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Majority Leader questioned the rationale behind some members’ claims that the recently sworn-in MP’s case involved selective justice. He referred to articles in the 1992 Constitution, most especially Article 97, that talk about the reasons why an MP could have to vacate their position.
“Mr Speaker, if this provision comes to be applied, nobody from his true conscience can say that it is persecution or selective justice. Let us respect the constitution that all of us have sworn to uphold.”
“Selectivity will be that you elect to apply in piecemeal the entirety of the constitution. Mr Speaker, so people should understand and appreciate the import of this constitution and when it comes to be applied it is not selective justice.”
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu
Speaker Bagbin, however, stated that he still stands by his reference to Mr. Gyakye Quayson’s case as “selective justice” because he claims there is ample evidence to support that.
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