After being expunged from Parliament on May 17, 2023, Mr. James Gyakye Quayson is expected to be back in court, facing criminal charges.
The Assin-North lawmaker is facing five counts of criminal offences of Deceit of public officer contrary to section 251 (b) of the Criminal offences Act, 1960, Act 29; Forgery of Passport or Travel Certificate, contrary to section 15 (1)(b) of Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967 (NLCD 155); and, Knowingly making a False Statutory Declaration in contravention of the Statutory Declarations Act, 1971, Act 389.
He also faces Perjury as per section 210 (1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, Act 29; and False Declaration for Office as against section 248 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, Act 29.
In a unanimous decision on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court presided over by Justice Jones Dotse, with Justices Nene Amegatcher, Mariama Owusu, Gertrude Torkornoo, Prof Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi and Barbara Ackah-Ayensu ordered Parliament to expunge his name form its records.
Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional the election of James Quayson, stripping him of his position.
According to the highest court of the land, the election of Mr. Quayson breached Article 94(2) (a) of the 1992 Constitution because at the time he filed to contest as MP for Assin-North in the 2020 elections, he was not qualified to be elected as a legislator since he had not renounced his dual citizenship
The court therefore declared Mr Quayson filing to contest, the EC’s decision to allow him to contest as well as his swearing-in as MP in Parliament as unconstitutional, null and void.
The court said the full reasons for its decision will be filed at the court’s registry by June 7, 2023.
