Assin North MP’s case: Court sets July 14 for ruling

The Cape Coast High Court has set July 14, 2021, for its ruling on the petition challenging the election of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Assin North, Mr James Gyekye Quayson.

This follows the clearance given to the presiding Judge, Mr Justice Kwasi Boakye, by the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, to proceed with the case.

Justice Boakye halted proceedings in the ongoing election petition case following a petition to the Chief Justice to have him removed from the case by the respondent.

But at its sitting yesterday, Justice Boakye said he had been directed to continue with proceedings since the petitioner had failed to substantiate his allegations of bias against him (judge).

He said the Chief Justice indicated that he should proceed with the case.

Legal changes

On the change in legal representation for Mr Quayson, it was revealed that he (Mr Quayson) had still not been served following the judge’s request to have Mr Amaliba facilitate the process in getting him served on his application to withdraw as Mr Quayson's counsel.

Justice Boakye said CI 47 permitted him to grant Mr Amaliba's application to withdraw his services from the case without having the first respondent served.

The judge also indicated that he had used applicable laws to dismiss the stay of motion filed earlier, adding that there was now no obstruction in giving a final judgement on the scheduled date.

Indecent haste

Mr Abraham Amaliba, after his application was accepted by the court, said the decision of the court to give judgement on July 14, 2021 without notice to the first respondent was an indecent haste.

He said it was only proper that the first respondent was given the needed notice to seek for legal representation since his application to withdraw his services had been granted although he (Mr Gyekye Quayson) was yet to be served.

The counsel for the petitioner, Mr Frank Davies, said the opposing counsel had unceremoniously tried to delay the case. He, however, expressed the hope that justice would take its due course.

Election petition

Mr Quayson polled 17,498 votes as against 14,793 by the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP’s) Ms Abena Durowaa Mensah, in the December 7, 2020 parliamentary election.

However, on December 30, 2020, a resident of Assin North, Mr Michael Ankomah-Nimfah, filed a parliamentary election petition at the Cape Coast High Court challenging the eligibility of Mr Quayson to be a Member of Parliament.

He contended that the MP was not eligible on the basis that at the time he (Quayson) filed his nomination to contest as a parliamentary candidate, he was still a citizen of Canada.