Canadian Passport Melancholy: Thank You Sir, But I Want My Case To Continue …Gyakye Quayson Rejects AG Ayine’s Withdrawal Offer

Despite the Attorney-General’s recent halting of at least eight high-profile cases, the criminal trial of Assin North Member of Parliament (MP), James Gyakye Quayson, remains ongoing.

It was disclosed during a “Meet the Press” session by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine that the MP’s lead defense counsel, Tsatsu Tsikata, has decided not to accept the offer to discontinue the trial.

Accordingly, he has chosen to fight the case to clear his client’s name, rather than seek a withdrawal.

As a result, Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh, presiding over the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra, is set to determine the ruling date on a submission of no case to answer, following the Prosecution’s closure of its case on February 12, 2025.

The state, led by Principal State Attorney (PSA) Madam Esi Dentaa Yankah, has built its case on charges of Deceit of a Public Officer, Forgery of Passport or Travel Certificates, Knowingly Making a False Statutory Declaration, Perjury and False Declaration for Office

In advancing its case, the prosecution called five witnesses, including Richard Takyi-Mensah – a teacher from Yamoransa in the Central Region, the complainant, Nana Kojo Amponsah – the Returning Officer for the Electoral Commission (EC) in Assin North and Latif Oshenu.

Case Background

According to the prosecution’s brief, James Gyakye Quayson, while applying for a Ghanaian passport in July 2019, falsely declared that he did not have dual citizenship, despite holding a Canadian passport issued on October 30, 2016.

He obtained a Ghanaian passport on August 2, 2019 based on this alleged false information.

When filing his nomination for the 2020 parliamentary elections, he swore a statutory declaration on October 6, 2020 stating that he did not owe allegiance to any other country.

However, at the time, he was still a Canadian citizen and only received his Certificate of Renunciation on November 26, 2020 – 48 days after submitting his nomination forms.

Under Article 94(2)(a) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, dual citizens are disqualified from holding parliamentary positions.

Quayson’s election victory was later challenged, leading to his prosecution.

Following investigations, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) received a petition on January 11, 2021 prompting formal charges.

The post Canadian Passport Melancholy: Thank You Sir, But I Want My Case To Continue …Gyakye Quayson Rejects AG Ayine’s Withdrawal Offer appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.

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