A high Court in Cape Coast has opened the trial of James Gyakye Quayson the Assin North MP’s dual citizenship case on Monday, April 12, 2021.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Kwasi Boakye has ordered all parties in the case to file their written submissions and address the court based on the issues set down for trial.
While, the lawyer for the Assin North MP, Abraham Amaliba, brought forth eleven issues, the lawyer for the petitioner, Frank Davies had five issues while the EC lawyer had three issues.
Justice Kwasi Boakye has adjourned the case to May 12, 2021, asked the lawyers to prepare to address him on the three issues set down for trial.
Background
In January this year, a petition was filed at the Cape Coast High Court seeking to annul the declaration of Mr. James Gyakye Quayson as the Member of Parliament (MP) elect for the Assin North Constituency.
The petition filed by one Michael Ankomah -Nimfa of Assin Bereku, was served with the Electoral Commission (EC) as the second respondent.
Mr. Quayson, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP-elect, polled 17,498 against New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Madam Abena Durowaa Mensah who had 14,793 on December 7, 2020 election.
However, the petitioner has argued that Mr. Quayson owes allegiance to Canada.
He is alleging that the MP holds dual citizenship contrary to the expressed provision of Article 94 (2) (a) of the 1992 constitution of Ghana, which states, “A person shall not be qualified to be a member of Parliament if he – (a) owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana.”
