President Akufo-Addo has charged the people of Assin North not to make a mistake by voting for the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s parliamentary candidate in the by-election. 

The President insists that James Gyakye Quayson cannot deliver on the duties expected of him as a Member of Parliament (MP).

According to President Akufo-Addo, Mr Quayson could end up in jail due to the criminal trial he is facing, leaving the Constituency without an MP. 

Speaking at the New Patriotic Party (NPP)’s final rally ahead of the by-election scheduled for Tuesday, June 27, President Akufo-Addo urged voters in Assin North to endorse the NPP’s candidate, Charles Opoku. 

He added that the election is crucial for the constituency and the nation as a whole.

“We should not support or vote for individuals who are entangled in legal controversies that may eventually lead them to face imprisonment.”

“We need someone who can come and help you. Someone who will work in your interest. I heard Gyakye Quayson say that even in prison, you people will vote for him, can he work from jail?

"We vote for people to go to Parliament to work, how can he work from prison? So don’t vote for someone who will end up in jail, vote for someone who can work to improve your lives,” President Akufo-Addo said. 

Meanwhile, the President has also denied claims of being behind the prosecution of James Gyakye Quayson.

He says he has never interfered in the work of the judiciary throughout his stay in office as President.

A by-election in Assin North has become necessary after parliament wrote to the Electoral Commission declaring the seat vacant.

This followed a Supreme Court ruling that the Electoral Commission acted unconstitutionally in allowing Mr Quayson to contest the 2020 parliamentary election without proof of him renouncing his Canadian Citizenship.

The apex court in its ruling ordered parliament to expunge James Gyakye Quayson’s name from its records as a Member of Parliament. 

It further declared that his election was unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.

His swearing-in was equally declared to be unconstitutional.