The Minority in Parliament has vehemently slammed the Supreme Court‘s decision to nullify the 2020 parliamentary election results in the Assin North constituency describing it as perplexing, a slap in the face of Ghana’s democracy and the rule of law.
The group in a statement released on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, and signed by its Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, said the caucus is strongly against the ruling.
The Supreme Court has in a unanimous decision declared the election of James Gyakye Quayson as Member of Parliament for Assin North as null, void and unconstitutional.
The panel of seven presided over by Justice Jones Dotse, said the election of James Quayson when he owed allegiance to a country other than Ghana is “inconsistent with and violates Article 94(2) (a) of the Constitution of the Republic o Ghana 1992.”
The court has ordered Parliament to expunge his name as MP from its records.
Justice Jones Victor Dotse, Justice Nene Amegatcher, Justice Mariama Owusu, Gertrude Araba Torkornoo, Justice Prof. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Justice Yonny Kulendi and Justice Barbara Ackah-Yensu declared that Mr Quayson was not qualified at the time he contested the election 2020.
But the Minority Leader, Dr. Ato Forson in the statement maintained that “at the time of his election, Hon. James Gyakye Quayson was not a dual citizen, neither was he a dual citizen as at the time he took the oath of office as a Member of Parliament”.
“The intention of the framers of Ghana’s constitution is not to allow a dual citizen to perform the functions of Parliament.”
According to him, the Minority Caucus is yet to study the reasoning of the court in making its decision adding that “we shall inform the public of our position upon reviewing the reasoning of the Court in arriving at its decision. We urge our rank and file to be calm while we pursue all legal avenues to ensure that justice is served”.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh
