'File your response within 10 days' - SC to James Quayson on application against High Court

The Supreme Court has directed the injuncted Assin-North MP, James Gyakye Quayson to within 10 days, file his response to the AG's affidavit in opposition to his application filed against the High Court(Criminal Division). 

The High Court had on July 20, 2022, adjourned the criminal proceedings involving the injuncted Assin-North MP, James pending the outcome of an application at the Supreme Court.

Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata, counsel for the embattled MP, had informed the court of the application filed by his side on July 18, 2022, seeking an order of certiorari relative to his overruled objection against the tendering of the First Prosecution witness statement.

As a result, the cross-examination of the first prosecution witness(PW1) Richard Takyi-Mensah, was put on hold.

When the case was called today, July 28, 2022, Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata drew the court's attention to the fact that he had just been served with the AG's affidavit in opposition and thus requested time to respond appropriately.

At this time, the presiding judge, Jones Dotse JSC asked the AG for its response.

On her part, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Yvonne Attakora Obuobisa noted that her outfit was served on July 21 and responded within 3 days in order not to delay the substantive criminal case at the High Court.

She further mentioned that counsel for the applicant should have considered the timelessness of the pending case when filing his affidavits since he had already indicated to the trial court that he would push for the quick and expeditious handling of the application.

After listening to both sides, the court ruled that the applicant's counsel is ordered to file his response within 10 days.'

The case has meanwhile been adjourned to October 18, 2022, for hearing.

Other members of the panel were; Justices Prof Ashie Kotey, Nene Amegatcher, H.Mensa-Bonsu, and  Lovelace Johnson.

Background

In February this year, Mr. James Gyakye Quayson was charged by the state with five counts of perjury and forgery of a passport with the specific charges being; deceit of a public officer, forgery of a passport, knowingly making a false statutory declaration, perjury, and false declaration. 

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges and was granted bail to the tune of GHc 100,000