Re-elected Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson, has filed an application appealing the Accra High Court ruling for his criminal trial to be heard on a daily basis.
On June 23, the High Court, presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh, dismissed an application for a review of an earlier ruling on June 16, demanding, among other things, that Quayson’s trial be heard on a daily basis.
However, in an affidavit dated June 27, 2023, signed by Justin Pwara Teriwajah, Quayson’s lawyer, he argued that the High Court judge, in her ruling to allow a daily trial for Quayson, committed “errors of law.”
The affidavit also made reference to certain “extremely prejudicial, unjustified, and insulting remarks” made by the Attorney-General as having the potential to have influenced the ruling of June 23.
In addition, it cited President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for making a presidential statement in the process of campaigning in the Assin North constituency.
He said the president’s remarks had amplified a comment by the Attorney-General to the effect that Gyakye Quayson had been irresponsible in opting to contest for a parliamentary seat when he was facing criminal charges.
He further accused President Akufo-Addo and Godfred Yeboah Dame of being desirous of the conviction and imprisonment of Gyakye Quayson by every means without consideration of the latter’s fundamental human rights.
“At a campaign rally for the candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the President made many prejudicial remarks, including some to the effect that the voters in Assin North Constituency should not vote for a candidate who could end up in prison.”
“That both the President and the Attorney General are clearly craving the conviction and imprisonment of the accused person without any regard whatsoever to the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights of the accused person”, parts of the affidavit read.
Mr. Gyakye Quayson was declared the winner of the Assin-North by election after the Supreme Court instructed parliament to remove his name from their records over having a double nationality.
Since the election, President Akufo-Addo has congratulated the NDC and expressed confidence in a comeback by the NPP for the seat.
