Embattled National Democratic Congress (NDC) member, James Gyakye Quayson has officially announced his intention to participate in the Assin North by-election scheduled for June 27.
According to him, “I am determined to continue serving the good people of the Assin North with all my heart, soul, body and all the resources I can muster for the benefit of my constituents.”
Mr Quayson’s parliamentary membership was revoked after the Supreme Court invalidated his election in the 2020 polls because, according to the Court, he owed allegiance to another country, Canada.
But in a June 1 communiqué, the former MP urged the constituents “to come out in your numbers to vote for me so I return to Parliament and continue the work I began to do on your behalf, towards advancing the Assin North development agenda.”
The 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.
Subsequently, Michael Ankomah-Nimfah, a teacher and resident of Yamoransa in the Central Region, filed a petition at the Cape Coast High Court seeking to invalidate the declaration of Mr. Quayson as the MP for Assin North.
The Cape Coast High Court upheld Mr. Akomah-Nimfah’s petition, ruling that Mr. Quayson’s dual citizenship breached constitutional provisions.
Consequently, the court declared the 2020 parliamentary election in the Assin North Constituency null and void.
On May 17, the Supreme Court upheld the Cape Coast High Court’s decision and instructed Parliament to expunge Mr. Quayson’s name from its records.
Following the declaration of the Assin North seat as vacant by Parliament on May 30, the Electoral Commission scheduled a by-election in the constituency for June 27.
The NDC has chosen to nominate Mr. Quayson as their candidate for the by-election.
In his declaration, Mr. Quayson urged constituents to vote for him, expressing his commitment to continue the work he started towards advancing the development agenda of Assin North.
Full statement here:
