Assin North Member of Parliament (MP), James Gyakye Quayson, who is standing trial for forgery and perjury, has been granted bail in the sum of GH₵100,000 with one surety by the Accra High Court.
He was granted bail by the court, presided over by Mary Maame Ekue Nsenkyire, after the case was called on Tuesday, 15 February 2022.
The NDC MP insists he is innocent of the five counts of forgery of passport or travel certificate, knowingly making a false statutory declaration, perjury and false declaration for office.
He is also accused of deceiving a public officer and knowingly making a false declaration.
His lawyer, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, had wanted a self recognisance bail which the court denied due to the challenge of bailiffs in serving him court processes on several occasions.
Backing the decision of refusal was a Deputy Attorney- General (A-G), Mr Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, who argued that it was a daunting task for state officials to get Mr Quayson served.
The court had to issue a criminal summons against the MP to compel him to appear for proceedings.
At the last hearing, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Yvonne Attakora Obuobisa, notified the court that all attempts to serve the legislator had proved futile.
She said on 3 February, the prosecution caused a hearing notice to be issued to the address of the accused at Assin Bereku in the Central Region.
Again, the DPP said the team was able to get the Accra address of the accused, and the police posted a copy of the hearing notice on the inside door of the house at Manet Estate.
On 7 February, a hearing notice through the court bailiff to the home of the accused in Accra also failed to reach the accused.
She explained further that, on the same day, “the police investigator posted a copy of the charge sheet on the home of the accused.”
According to her, even though the police met an occupant in the house, the person refused to accept the service and said the accused had gone out.