James Gyakye Quayson has officially declared his intention to contest in the impending by-election at Assin North constituency in the Central Region slated for June 27 on the ticket of the opposition National Democratic Congress.
The seat became vacant following a Supreme Court ruling on May 17 that instructed Parliament to expunge Mr. Quayson’s name from its records after years of legal battle challenging his legitimacy as the elected Member of Parliament for Assin North in the 2020 elections.
James Gyakye Quayson, in a statement on June 1 announced, “I am determined to continue serving the good people of the Assin North with all my heart, soul, body and all the resources I can muster for the benefit of my constituents.”
He therefore urged his constituents “to come out in your numbers to vote for me so I return to Parliament and continue the work I began to do on your behalf, towards advancing the Assin North development agenda.”
It would be recalled that immediately after being sworn into office as the MP for the area, one Michael Ankomah-Nimfah, a teacher and resident of Yamoransa in the Central Region, filed a petition at the Cape Coast High Court seeking to invalidate the declaration of Mr. Quayson as the MP for Assin North.
The Cape Coast High Court upheld Mr. Akomah-Nimfah’s petition, ruling that Mr. Quayson’s dual citizenship breached constitutional provisions.
Consequently, the court declared the 2020 parliamentary election in the Assin North Constituency null and void.
On May 17, the Supreme Court upheld the Cape Coast High Court’s decision and instructed Parliament to expunge Mr. Quayson’s name from its records.
Following the declaration of the Assin North seat as vacant by Parliament on May 30, the Electoral Commission scheduled a by-election in the constituency for June 27.
The NDC has chosen to nominate Mr. Quayson as their candidate for the by-election.
Mr. Quayson subsequently remarked, “I know that you people of Assin North, are ready for the bye-election. Since last year April, when the Supreme Court stopped me from performing my duties as your representative in Parliament, you have been without representation in the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic. Like the people of the SALL Traditional Areas who are excluded from representation in this Parliament, you the people of Assin North too have been in that unacceptable situation for over a year.
“The bye-election, which must be held within thirty days of the decision of the Supreme Court, according to the Constitution (Article 112(5)), will bring an end to this situation. The will of the people of Assin North must triumph.
“Democracy must be restored. I urge you all to come out in your numbers to vote for me so I return to Parliament and continue the work I began to do on your behalf, towards advancing the Assin North development agenda.”
Below is his full statement
