Mr James Gyakye Quayson, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), appeared in the Accra High Court on Tuesday morning to face charges of forgery and perjury.
Mr Quayson was accompanied by Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, the party’s National Chairman, and two former Attorney-Generals (A-Gs), Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong and Mrs Betty Mould Iddrisu.
Mr Quayson is accused of falsification and perjury in connection with suspected crimes committed in the run-up to the 2020 Assin North parliamentary election, although he has missed two court appearances.
The court, presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Nsenkyire, called the MP to appear before the court today (Tuesday, February 15, 2022) to have his case heard.
The criminal summons, charge sheet, and facts of the case should be served to the MP in accordance with the court’s ruling.
Tsatsu’s invocation
The case was set for hearing at 10 a.m. today, but the MP’s lawyer, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, requested that it be heard earlier since his client had another case before the Supreme Court at 10 a.m.
Justice Nsenkyire, on the other hand, denied counsel’s request, stating that the matter was scheduled for hearing at 10 a.m. and that it would not be sensible to hear it sooner, particularly because the prosecution was not there.
Charges
Mr Quayson faces five charges of forging of a passport or travel certificate, wilfully making a false statutory statement, perjury, and false declaration for office, according to state prosecutors.
The prosecution claims that Mr Quayson lied to the Passport Office when he filed for a Ghanaian passport, claiming that he did not have a passport from another nation.
Furthermore, the prosecution accuses Mr Quayson of falsely declaring to the Electoral Commission (EC) that he (Quayson) owed no loyalty to a foreign nation when he ran for the Assin North seat.