In response to an interview Kobina Tahir Hammond granted a Kumasi-based television station, James Gyakye Quayson, the member of parliament for Assin North Constituency, accused the Minister of Trade and Industry for contempt.
According to KT Hammond, as he is often known, Mr. Gyakye Quayson will serve time in prison during the aforementioned interview on Oyerepa TV on Tuesday, July 4.
The Assin North Constituency’s attorneys filed a petition at the High Court on Friday, July 7, alleging that the interview violates Mr. Gyakye Quayson’s right to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence.
In the writ, counsel Justin Pwavra Teriwajah stated that “the said words of the Respondent are also in contempt of this Honourable Court as they are extremely prejudicial to the lawful process of this Honourable Court”.
He added that KT Hammond, who is also the Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa Constituency, is brazenly usurping the function of the trial judge.
According to him, the Court has the authority to hold KT Hammond and those of his kind in contempt of the Court under Article 126(2) of the 1992 Constitution in order to maintain the integrity of the legal system.
The writ demands that the Minister appear before the Court so that he or she might be “tried for contempt of court and sentenced to prison if found guilty.”
Gyakye Quayson is on trial for perjury when it was claimed that, despite having dual citizenship, he lied when he filed his nomination for the 2020 elections.
