The Supreme Court has ordered that James Gyakye Quayson’s name be removed from Parliament’s records as a member.
On Wednesday, May 17, Presiding Judge Justice Jones Dotse decided that the Electoral Commission (EC) behaved unconstitutionally by letting him run in the 2020 parliamentary elections without proof of renouncing his Canadian citizenship.
This is in the instance of Michael Ankomah Nimfah, a constituency inhabitant.
Mr. Nimfah had asked the court to rule that, based on a true and proper interpretation of Article 94(2)(a) of Ghana’s Constitution, 1992, at the time Mr. Quayson filed his nomination form to contest the 2020 Parliamentary elections for the Assin North Constituency in October 2020, he was not qualified to contest a member of Parliament.
This article of the constitution states that a person who owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana is ineligible to serve in Parliament.
Mr. Quayson was not qualified at the time he filed his nomination documents, the court concluded unanimously.
It also ruled that the EC’s decision to allow him to run while he had not provided evidence of renunciation of his Canadian citizenship was illegal.
It also proclaimed his election unlawful, null and void, and without effect. His inauguration was also found unlawful, and Parliament was compelled to remove his name from its records.
His inauguration was also found unlawful, and Parliament was compelled to remove his name from its records.
Credit: Joynews