The Member of Parliament (MP)-elect for Assin North Constituency, James Gyakye Quayson will not be sworn into the 8th Parliament of Ghana tomorrow.
The Cape Coast High Court granted an injunction against him ruling that he (James Quayson), cannot hold himself MP-elect for the constituency because of his dual citizenship.
Happy 98.9 FM’s Central Regional Correspondent, Nana Kwaku Arhin updating listeners on the ruling granted today on the Epa Hoa Daben political talk show said;
“The injuction has been granted and James Quayson has been ordered not to partake in the swearing in ceremony of elected legislators into parliament this dawn. He will not be able to present himself before parliament toromorrow”.
Kweku Arhin noted that lawyers of the MP-elect decided to appeal the court’s decision but the court had closed for the day.
“James Quayson’s lawyers decided to file an appeals but were unable to do so today. And this saddened NDC party faithfuls who were at the court’s premises and heard the ruling”, he disclosed.
One Michael Ankomah of the Assin North Constituency filed a petition against the MP-elect of the constituency on the grounds of him (James Quayson) holding a Canadian passport in addition to his Ghanaian passport.
According to the petitioner, James Quayson owes allegiance to both Ghana and Canada which contravenes the provision of Article 94 (2) (a) of Ghana’s constitution and has asked the court to declare his position as MP-elect null and void.
Article 94 (2) (a) reads:
(2) A person shall not be qualified to be a member of Parliament if he—
(a) owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana.
By: Joel Sanco