Assin North MP must be cited for contempt – Dep A-G

A Deputy Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, says the National Democratic Congress MP-elect who defied court’s directive not to hold himself as MP must be charged for contempt.

According to the deputy A-G, the action of James Quayeson, who was sworn-in despite court injunction was an affront to the court’s directive.

“Clearly, if a person acts in violation of a court order and if a person acts in woeful disregard of the authority of a court, it is something that is in contempt of court.

“But of course, whether the contempt will be followed or not is for the lawyers who were involved in the matter to take the necessary decision,” Mr Dame said to Citi FM.

He, therefore, urged the plaintiff to take the matter up before the court.

On January 6, the Cape Coast High Court granted an injunction restraining the MP-elect, James Quayeson, from being among his peers because he holds dual citizenship.

A private citizen and a resident of Assin Berekum, Micheal Ankomah, Nimfah filed a suit at the Cape Coast High Court challenging the qualification of James Quayeson as the MP-elect for the area.

The mason averred that at the time Mr Quayeson filed his nomination he was still holding onto his Canadian citizenship. He failed to denounce his citizenship as required by law.

Ghana’s laws bar dual citizens from holding public offices in Ghana.

In freezing the MP Elect right to be in Parliament, the judge Kwadwo Boakye Tawiah said: “the allegation contained is of grave nature and he could not hold himself as MP-elect.”

Also, the NDC MP-Elect did not have the renunciation certificate to present before the court to confirm that he had indeed renounced his Canadian citizenship.

But the NDC MP elect defied the court’s directive and joined his peers in the House to be sworn-in.