High Court to Rule on Assin North MP’s Defence

The High Court in Accra will decide on March 3 whether Assin North Member of Parliament (MP), James Gyakye Quayson, should present his defence in the ongoing forgery and perjury trial against him.

Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh set the date after the prosecution, led by Principal State Attorney Esi Dentaa Yankah, concluded its case last Wednesday by recalling its fifth witness.

Both the defence and prosecution have been given two weeks to file their written submissions, which will help the court determine if the prosecution has provided sufficient evidence to warrant Mr. Quayson’s defence.

Prosecution’s Case

So far, the prosecution has called six witnesses to support its allegations against the MP. Before closing their case, state prosecutors recalled Latif Oshenu, who was cross-examined by the defence lawyer, Tsatsu Tsikata.

During cross-examination, Mr. Tsikata questioned Oshenu about Quayson’s 2020 election nomination form, asking him to indicate where the MP claimed to have renounced his Canadian citizenship. The witness admitted that the form did not contain such a declaration. However, he insisted that at the time of filing, Quayson held both Ghanaian and Canadian citizenships.

Further pressed on his knowledge of Canadian law, Oshenu acknowledged that he was not an expert but maintained his stance based on documentary evidence.

“I say so because a copy of his Canadian passport, which I obtained during the investigation, was authenticated by the Canadian High Commission in Ghana. We wrote two letters to the Commission, and both responses are on the case docket,” he stated.

Charges and Plea

Mr. Quayson is facing five charges, including forgery of a passport or travel document, knowingly making a false statutory declaration, perjury, and false declaration for office.

According to the prosecution, he allegedly provided false information to the Passport Office, claiming he did not hold another country’s passport when applying for a Ghanaian passport.

Additionally, the prosecution accuses him of falsely declaring to the Electoral Commission (EC) that he owed no allegiance to any foreign country when he filed his nomination to contest the Assin North parliamentary seat.

The MP has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court’s decision on March 3 will determine the next phase of the trial.