Supreme Court’s ruling on Gyakye Quayson a blow to democracy– Minority

The Supreme Court’s ruling to invalidate the 2020 parliamentary election results in the Assin North constituency has faced strong criticism from the Minority in Parliament.

According to the Minority, the ruling is confusing and undermines both democracy and the principles of the rule of law.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, expressed his party’s dissatisfaction with the court’s decision.

The Supreme Court, through a unanimous verdict, instructed Parliament to expunge James Gyakye Quayson’s name from its records as the Member of Parliament representing the Assin North constituency after declaring as unconstitutional, the election of the embattled legislator.

This ruling was the outcome of a case brought before the Supreme Court, invoking its original jurisdiction to examine the constitutionality of James Gyakye Quayson’s election.

James Gyakye Quayson had been accused of holding dual citizenship prior to the 2020 election, an allegation he vehemently denied.

Ato Forson in the statement insisted 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.”

The Minority Leader said his side 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”.

Read below is the full statement from the Minority: