The High Court in Accra has granted the deposed National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson, GH¢100,000.00 bail with one surety.
He pleaded not guilty to criminal charges including forgery, the deceit of a public officer and knowingly making a false declaration and perjury when he made his appearance at the Court yesterday.
Mr Quayson has been charged with five counts relating to certain alleged offences in the run-up to the 2020 Assin North parliamentary election.
Tsatsu Tsikata who represented the accused person prayed the court not to take the plea of the member due to some outstanding constitutional issues.
He indicated that documents filed by the Attorney-General’s (A-G’s) Department as the basis for the charge sheet raise issues that require interpretation at the Supreme Court.
However, Deputy Attorney-General, Alfred Tuah Yeboah, argued that no issue of interpretation arises as the business of the day only requires the accused person to respond to the charges per the law.
Mary Nsenkyire, the presiding Judge subsequently ruled that the plea of the Assin North MP be taken and was granted bail of ¢100,000 with one surety.
Mr. Quayson is required to deposit his passport at the Court Registrar’s office.
It will be recalled that the Cape Coast High Court in July 2021 annulled the Assin North Parliamentary elections after it ruled Mr Quayson was not eligible to contest the polls.
He has since been legally fighting to set this aside, with the matter currently pending at the Court of Appeal.
The Attorney General’s Department later filed criminal charges against the unseated MP but court officials were unable to serve him with the court processes amidst allegations that a court bailiff was assaulted by the accused’s bodyguard.
A resident of the constituency, Michael Ankomah Nimfah who initiated the action against the MP at the High Court has sought the intervention of the Supreme Court to stop the MP from performing Parliamentary duties.
Mr Quayson, who has since been evading court summons was, however, present in court on yesterday with party stalwarts including the National Chairman and General Secretary as well as leadership of the Minority storming the courts to throw their weight behind him.
