Parliament refuses to recognise James Quayson as Assin North MP-elect
Alex Afenyo-Markin, the MP-elect for Effutu, wanted clarity on whether the House had been served by the court injuncting the MP-elect for Assin North from taking part in the election of a Speaker
- “I was duly served and I am therefore unable to recognise James Quayson as MP-elect for the purposes of electing a Speaker. I will therefore proceed…”
Cyril Nsiah, the Clerk to Parliament, says he was unable to recognise James Gyakye Quayson as the MP-elect for Assin North after confirming that he had received an injunction from a Cape Coast high court on Wednesday (6 January 2021).
Quayson was in the House hoping to be sworn in, but the Clerk to Parliament read out the court order.
Alex Afenyo-Markin, the MP-elect for Effutu (New Patriotic Party), sought to know from the Clerk to Parliament if he had received an order from a Cape Coast high court injuncting the MP-elect for Assin North.
But Haruna Iddrisu, the MP-elect for Tamale South (National Democratic Congress), said no court injunction has been served on James Quayson.
After one hour of arguments, the Clerk to Parliament said, “I was duly served and I am therefore unable to recognise James Quayson as MP-elect for the purposes of electing a Speaker. I will therefore proceed …”
Violated rules?
The high court in Cape Coast granted an injunction restraining James Gyakye Quayson from holding himself as the NDC’s MP-elect for Assin North, because of suspicions that he violated dual citizenship rules.
The judgment followed a petition against Quayson by one Michael Ankoma-Nimfah, a mason and resident of Assin Bereku.
Quayson is accused of owing allegiance to Canada, contrary to Article 94 (1) (a) of the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
According to Justice Kwadwo Boakye Tawiah, the issues raised against the MP-elect warrant full trial, hence he must stop describing himself as the incoming MP.
Renunciation
Even though the MP-elect took steps to renounce his non-Ghanaian citizenship before filing his nomination, according to documents submitted to the court by his counsel, Abraham Amaliba, the lawyer for the petitioner, Frank Davies, argued that Quayson should have renounced his second citizenship fully before filing his forms to contest.
Moreover, he said, Quayson should have secured a certificate of renunciation before filing to contest the seat.
The MP-elect was granted a certificate of renunciation of Canadian citizenship on 27 November 2020.
The hearing at the Cape Coast high court to deliver judgment was packed with supporters of both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP), amid heavy security.
The parties
Michael Ankomah-Nimfah, a mason and resident of Assin Bereku, in the Assin North constituency of the Central Region, petitioned the regional high court, essentially challenging the constitutionality of the election of the incoming MP for Assin North.
The respondents to the petition were James Quayson, otherwise known as James Gyakye Quayson (first respondent), and the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana (the second respondent).
Fred Dzakpata
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