An Accra High Court has set June 23 to rule on whether it should put the trial of the NDC’s James Gyakye Quayson on hold.

Mr Quayson’s lawyers have told the court he needs time to campaign ahead of the June 27 Assin North By-election.

This push is an attempt to vary the court’s earlier ruling that the case will be heard on a daily basis.

A development, Mr Quayson’s lawyers are unhappy.

“It is our view that, the Parliamentary election in which the accused person is a candidate is a national assignment.

"That is what the constitution of the land provides and that is also what the Supreme Court has recognised.

"The SC in 2013 election petition recognised the right to offer oneself for any political office.”, Lead counsel Tsatsu Tsikata told the court.

Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame however disagreed.

He insisted Mr Quayson has the right to contest for elections but that is not a national assignment to merit a special dispensation from the court.

“The conduct of a hearing in a criminal matter is at the discretion of the court. This has been subsequently regulated.

"The Criminal Procedure Act enjoins you with all respect to determine the days and times at which any matter should be adjourned. There is no room for participation.

"The adjournment of the matter to Tuesday and subsequent days is in accordance with law. I wonder how an accused person who is fortunate to have the matter adjourned for day to day is opposed to it”, Mr Dame said.

The court will deliver its ruling on Friday. It has meanwhile granted a request by Mr Quayson to be excused from proceedings on that day.

The NDC’s Assin North candidate is facing charges of perjury and forgery bothering on whether he had renounced his Canadian citizenship at the time he filed his nomination forms to contest the 2020 polls.

The embattled National Democratic Congress parliamentary candidate for the upcoming Assin North by-election is permitted to miss the hearing on that day.