The High Court in Accra, hearing the perjury case against James Gyakye Quayson, has ruled today (June 21, 2023) that the deposed MP could miss the next hearing on June 23, 2023, to focus on his campaign for re-election.
Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh announced the new date for Quayson’s trial.
In a motion before the court, the lawyers for Quayson prayed for the trial date to be fixed after the Assin North by-election scheduled for June 27, 2023.
Mr Tsatsu Tsikata argued that the hearing case on the said date would hamper their client’s election chances.
Mr Tsikata added that Gyakye Quayson offering himself as a candidate for elections means he is on a national assignment.
But the Attorney-General and Minster of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, said the motion, when granted, could lead to discrimination.
The A-G argued that all manner of persons, including farmers and public teachers, appear before the court on criminal charges.
Hence a public school teacher facing criminal charges could have no right to choose not to attend court proceedings merely because he/she had to teach.
He insisted that contesting in an election was not a national duty.
Meanwhile, the court has advised both lawyers for the state to avoid using abusive language in their arguments in court.