Assin North MP files stay of proceedings in Criminal case
On February 15, 2022, James Gyakye Quayson pleaded not guilty to charges of perjury and forgery of his passport and was granted bail in the sum of GH¢ 100,000 with one surety.
The Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson has filed for a stay of proceedings at the High Court sitting on Criminal charges preferred against him by the state.
On March 15, 2022, Tsatsu Tsikata who is counsel for the MP, disclosed in court that his side has not been served with disclosure and witness statements by the prosecution.
Additionally, he mentioned that they had filed an application for a stay of proceedings expected to be moved on March 28, 2022, thus prayed the court to adjourn its next sitting to the said date.
On the issue of non-service of disclosures, Director of Public Prosecution, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa explained that even though the state has made all disclosures and filed witness statements at the court Registry, one witness was out of the jurisdiction and they do not have the service address of Mr. Tsikata thus could not serve the letter attached to the disclosure documents.
After hearing both sides, the presiding judge asked that the address be filed at the Registry for future processes and adjourned sittings to Tuesday, March 29, 2022.
On February 15, 2022, James Gyakye Quayson pleaded not guilty to charges of perjury and forgery of his passport and was granted bail in the sum of GH¢ 100,000 with one surety.
According to the charge sheet filed at the High Court and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions at the AG Department, the MP has been charged as follows;
1.A first charge of “deceit of public officer” contrary to the Criminal Offences Act, 1960(Act 29).
According to the charge sheet, the MP, James Quayson made a false statement to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2019 that he did not have dual citizenship in acquiring a Ghanaian passport which he did not have a good reason to believe to be true.
2. Forgery of passport which is contrary to Section 15(1) of the Passports and Travel Certificates Act, 1967 (NLCD 155).
Prosecutors indicate that the MP made in 2019, a false statement at the Passport Office in Accra that he did not have dual citizenship.
3. Additionally, the MP faces a charge of ‘Knowingly making a false statutory declaration’, contrary to section 5 of the Statutory Declarations Act, 1971 (Act 389).
The charge sheet indicates that Hon. Quayson made a statutory declaration at Assin Fosu that he did not owe allegiance to any other country other than Ghana.
4. The fourth charge is ‘Perjury’ contrary to section 210(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
The charge sheet indicates that Hon. Quayson made a statutory declaration at Assin Fosu that he did not owe allegiance to any other country other than Ghana.
5. Finally, ‘False declaration for office’ contrary to section 248 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
It further indicates that on or about 8 October 2020 at the Electoral Commission Office, Hon Quayson obtained a public office as an MP by using a declaration knowingly that he did not owe allegiance to any other country but Ghana.
