It was his last hope – lawyer for Assin North MP-elect speaks out after injunction

General news for Wednesday, January 6, 2021

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

01/06/2021

Lawyer for Assin North MP-elect James Gyakye Quayson said his client would be greatly affected by a Cape Coast High Court ruling to grant an injunction, preventing his client’s swearing-in at midnight on Wednesday .

Abraham Amaliba, who represented the MP in court on Wednesday morning, said Mr Quayson had hoped to be able to file a notice of appeal and stay of execution to allow him to be sworn in when the 8th legislature was established.

But those hopes, he says, were dashed when the judge granted the injunction and they were also unable to file their motion due to the clerk’s absence at the time.

“While we were at the registry, he (James Quayson) sent me a text that we should do all we can to file the notice of appeal and stay of execution because for him it was his last hope and it did not materialize because we were locked out. The clerk is gone, the judge is gone, those who matter are gone, the clerk is gone. It is not democracy, it is very sad.

“The registry will normally close at 3 am. At 2 am this lady was locked up and gone. Shortly after writing their order, the clerk also locked himself in and left with the judge,” he said. in an interview with Joy News.

Mr Quayson, who was elected MP for the region in the poll on December 7, 2020, has been sued for allegedly having Canadian citizenship while running for public office.

According to the petitioner, Mr. Quayson’s allegiance to Ghana and Canada contravenes the provision of Article 94 (2) (a) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

The petition was therefore aimed at preventing him from being sworn in as an MP for the region, which was granted by a Cape Coast High Court just hours before the dissolution of the 7th parliament.

The court injunction gives the National Democratic Congress (NDC) 136 seats against 137 for the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

James Gyakye Quayson will not be able to join the NDC side with this, to vote for the president of the 8th legislature.

This development comes at a time when the two dominant political parties in Ghana are claiming majority status in the next parliament.