An Accra High Court hearing the trial of James Gyakye Quayson, will today Wednesday, June 21 hear a motion filed by James Gyakye Quayson to vary its decision to hear the case on a day-to-day basis.
The Court on Friday June 18, 2023, ruled that the ongoing criminal trial of the former MP will be heard daily starting from Tuesday, June 20, 2023.
This was after the Court, presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh turned down a prayer by Quayson’s lawyer, which sought to have the trial continued after the Assin North by-election scheduled for June 27, 2023.
The Lawyer argued that his client was embarking on a national duty in a bid to represent the people of Assin North in Parliament, hence the need to continue the trial after the by-election for Quayson to have a level playing field in the campaign, but the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, opposed the prayer, explaining that nobody had given Quayson a national assignment.
The Attorney-General argued that considering the charges levelled against Gyakye Quayson, he could be convicted and jailed if found guilty.
Hence, the need to try the case expeditiously to clarify Quayson’s status.
In court on Tuesday, June 20, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata told the Court that they had filed a motion, which the Court then fixed Wednesday, June 21, 2023, to hear the motion.
Meanwhile, Mr Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, a Deputy-Attorney-General, told the Court that they had not received the motion filed by the accused person and would need till tomorrow Wednesday, June 21, 2023, to study the document and respond, accordingly.
He, therefore, prayed the Court to allow lawyers for the accused person to continue the cross-examination of Richard Takyi-Mensah, the first prosecution witness in the matter as agreed by the Court.
Mr Tsikata said the issues raised in the motion for variation preceded the proceedings, however, continuing with the trial would be an injustice to Mr. Gyakye Quayson.
The Court then adjourned the trial to enable the prosecution to respond to the matter raised in the motion.
