National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson was on Wednesday acquitted and discharged by a High Court after facing criminal charges linked to allegations of dual citizenship.
The ruling ends a long-standing legal battle over claims that Mr. Quayson held Canadian citizenship when he filed to contest the 2020 parliamentary elections, an act the prosecution argued violated the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
Quayson, who consistently denied the allegations, had maintained that he renounced his Canadian citizenship prior to filing his nomination ahead of the parliamentary election.
The acquittal followed a submission of no case to answer filed by his legal team.
In its ruling, the court held that the prosecution had failed to prove the essential elements of the alleged offences.
The judge ruled that Quayson had not made any false declarations in his 2020 nomination forms and that at the time he declared that he owed allegiance to no country other than Ghana, the court found that he had already applied to renounce his Canadian citizenship, demonstrating that he had no dishonest intent.
The court also pointed out inconsistencies in the passport summary sheet and statutory declarations provided by prosecution witnesses, undermining the credibility of the evidence presented.
As a result, the judge concluded that there was no basis to call Quayson to open his defence.
Quayson had faced five charges, including forgery of a passport or travel certificate, knowingly making a false statutory declaration, perjury, and false declaration for office.
The prosecution alleged that he made false claims to the Passport Office and the Electoral Commission by stating that he did not hold allegiance to another country.
With the High Court’s ruling, the legal cloud over Quayson’s parliamentary seat has been lifted, allowing him to continue his work as a legislator without further legal obstruction.
Speaking after the ruling, he expressed relief over the court’s decision. Enditem
Source: Ghana Eye Report
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