Audio By Carbonatix
The Supreme Court has released the official document in which it declared as unconstitutional the election of James Gyakye Quayson as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North in the Central Region.
This is after a seven-member panel of the apex court ordered Parliament to expunge the name of Mr Quayson from its records.
Presiding Judge, Justice Jones Dotse on Wednesday, May 17, ruled that the Electoral Commission (EC) acted unconstitutionally in allowing him to contest the 2020 parliamentary elections without proof of him renouncing his Canadian Citizenship.
This was after a case was filed by a resident of the constituency Michael Ankomah Nimfah.
Mr Nimfah had asked the court to rule that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 94(2)(a) of the Constitution, 1992 of Ghana at the time Mr Quayson filed his nomination form in October 2020 to contest the 2020 Parliamentary elections for the Assin North Constituency, he was not qualified to contest a member of Parliament.
This provision of the constitution provides that a person shall not be qualified to be a member of Parliament if he owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana.
The court in a unanimous decision thus ruled that Mr. Quayson was not qualified at the time of filing his nomination forms.
It further held that the EC allowing him to contest when he had not shown evidence of renunciation of his citizenship of Canada is unconstitutional.
It further declared that his election was unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.
His swearing-in was equally declared to be unconstitutional with Parliament ordered to expunge his name from its records.
The case was heard by Justices Jones Dotse, Nene Amegatcher, Mariama Owusu, Gertrude Torkonoo, Prof Henrietta Mensah Bonsu, Emmanuel Kulendi and Barbara Ackah Ayensu.
Find a copy of the full ruling below:
Latest Stories
-
Securing children’s tomorrow today: Ghana launches revised ECCD policy
3 hours -
Protestors picket Interior Ministry, demand crackdown on galamsey networks
3 hours -
Labour Minister highlights Zoomlion’s role in gov’t’s 24-hour economy drive
3 hours -
Interior Minister receives Gbenyiri Mediation report to resolve Lobi-Gonja conflict
3 hours -
GTA, UNESCO deepen ties to leverage culture and AI for tourism growth
4 hours -
ECG completes construction of 8 high-tension towers following pylon theft in 2024
4 hours -
Newsfile to discuss 2026 SONA and present reality this Saturday
4 hours -
Dr Hilla Limann Technical University records 17% admission surge
4 hours -
Meetings Africa 2026 closes on a high, Celebrating 20 years of purposeful African connections
4 hours -
Fuel prices to increase marginally from March 1, driven by crude price surge
4 hours -
Drum artiste Aduberks holds maiden concert in Ghana
5 hours -
UCC to honour Vice President with distinguished fellow award
5 hours -
Full text: Mahama’s State of the Nation Address
5 hours -
Accra Mayor halts Makola No. 2 rent increment pending negotiations with facility managers
5 hours -
SoulGroup Spirit Sound drops Ghana medley to honour gospel legends
5 hours
