The National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s parliamentary candidate in the by-election has been urged by President Akufo-Addo to avoid making a mistake.
James Gyakye Quayson, according to the President, is unable to perform the tasks required of him as an MP.
President Akufo-Addo claims that because of the criminal trial Mr. Quayson is currently undergoing, he may go to jail and deprive the Constituency of a member of parliament.
President Akufo-Addo urged Assin North people to support Charles Opoku, the NPP’s candidate, during his speech at the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) penultimate rally before the by-election planned for Tuesday, June 27.
For the electorate and the country as a whole, he continued, the election is vital.
“We should not support or vote for people who are embroiled in legal disputes that could ultimately land them in jail.”
“We need someone who can come and help you. Someone who will work in your interest. I heard Gyakye Quayson say that even in prison, you people will vote for him, can he work from jail? We vote for people to go to Parliament to work, how can he work from prison? So don’t vote for someone who will end up in jail, vote for someone who can work to improve your lives,” President Akufo-Addo said.
Meanwhile, the President has also denied claims of being behind the prosecution of James Gyakye Quayson.
He says he has never interfered in the work of the judiciary throughout his stay in office as President.
A by-election in Assin North has become necessary after parliament wrote to the Electoral Commission declaring the seat vacant.
This followed a Supreme Court ruling that the Electoral Commission acted unconstitutionally in allowing Mr Quayson to contest the 2020 parliamentary election without proof of him renouncing his Canadian Citizenship.
In its decision, the supreme court mandated that James Gyakye Quayson’s name be removed off Parliament’s roster of Members of Parliament.
It additionally stated that his election was invalid, void, and of no further force or effect. The constitutionality of his swearing-in was also ruled.
