Court Sets July 11 For Ruling On Stay Of Proceedings In Quayson’s Case

An Accra High Court has set July 11, to rule on a stay of proceedings application filed by the Assin North MP James Gyakye Quayson in his criminal trial.

The newly sworn-in MP is before the court on five charges — deceit of a public officer, forgery of a passport or travel certificate, knowingly making a false statement, perjury, and false declaration for office.

On Thursday, July 6, Mr. Quayson’s legal team moved the application seeking to halt proceedings on the grounds that a review application is currently before the Court of Appeal.

They contend that until a determination has been made regarding the appeal challenging the trial judge’s decision to hear the case on a day-to-day basis, the main trial should be put on hold.

The team, led by the revered Tsatsu Tsikata, noted that if the application for a stay was not granted, it would simply convey the impression of a predetermined outcome of the trial.

But Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame opposed the application.

The prosecution argued that when lawyers for Mr. Quayson filed for the variation of the court orders, their application was in reference to the day-to-day hearing of the case before the Assin North by-election. However, the said dates in the application are long past.

Mr. Dame, therefore, fails to understand what the current concerns of Mr Quayson’s team are. They believe the defense team is simply seeking to waste the court’s time with the instant application.

“This application is a bundle of confusion grounded in distortions and must be rejected, I pray for same to be dismissed,” Mr Dame, stressed.

The presiding judge, Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh, after listening to both parties fixed July 11, 2023, for ruling.