Social media users react to Assin North by-election
Social media is in a split over the Cape Coast High Court ruling to have parliamentary bye-election in Assin North.
The ruling is the latest twist in a criminal dual citizenship case against the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, James Quayeson.
The NDC MP was dragged before the court for holding himself up for election even as he held Canadian citizenship.
On July 28, 2021, the Cape Coast High Court ruled for a fresh election to be held in the constituency.
It is unclear if the sitting MP would be able to contest in the elections again.
But the court, in its judgment, said the MP weakened his case when his renunciation certificate date showed November 26, 2020, less than two weeks to the December 7, 2020 elections.
Per court records, at the time of filing, Mr. Quayeson had two citizenship certificates.
He still had his Canadian citizenship when he filed for parliamentary elections between October 5 and October 9, 2020.
The court ruling has sparked debate on the social media platform, Twitter, as users expressed their opinion on the case outcome.
Background
Michael Ankomah-Nimfa, a resident of Assin Bereku in the Central Region, filed a petition at the Cape Coast High Court seeking to annul the declaration of James Gyakye Quayson as the MP for Assin North constituency.
The petitioner in his case stated that, at the time the MP was filing to contest the 2020 parliamentary elections, he had not renounced his Canadian citizenship and thus held dual nationality.
He avers, at the close of nominations on October 9, 2020, the Assin MP had not still renounced his Canadian nationality and such act is a complete violation of Article 94 (2)(a) of the 1992 Constitution which states, “A person shall not be qualified to be a member of Parliament if he or she – (a) owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana.”
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), had insisted that their MP is “a full citizen of Ghana who owes no allegiance whatsoever to any other country.
He is a Ghanaian in law and in fact and qualifies to be a Member of Parliament according to the laws of Ghana.
Read the post below:
If history were to repeat itself the former Assin North MP should have been arrested so he should not be thankful to the Cape Coast High Court 😑😑😑😑
— Ohemaa👸Yaa Black🇬🇭♛ (@OhemaaYaaBlack) July 28, 2021
The Supreme Court has struck out the application filed by the Assin North MP. Final judgement is due tomorrow at the Cape Coast high court at 9am. A party is about to lose one more seat in Parliament until a bye-election is conducted. “We are in a comfortable lead” people 😂
— Rex (@RexKwasiDanquah) July 27, 2021
EC should organize this #AssinNorth by-election with that of SALL. Assin North is GREENER💚 !!
Even when presidential election is held today, GHANA will be GREEN.💚 pic.twitter.com/h4oNXBTHEX— MPK💐 (@MPKwarteng_) July 28, 2021
Assin North Case
The Judge ruled for a fresh parliamentary election to be held in Assin North but the Hon MP is not barred from contesting again.
Me: so what’s the essence of taking the case to court if that same person will contest again 🧐
Okay where the law people dey?💃🏾
— Miss Koomson❤️🦋 (@JMbapeppy) July 28, 2021
NDC serves notice the party will appeal the decision of a Cape Coast high Court declaration as null and void the parliamentary election in the Assin North constituency. @Joy997FM @JoyNewsOnTV @OfficialNDCGh pic.twitter.com/MaXjYldLMt
— Elton Brobbey (@EltonBrobbey) July 28, 2021
The Cape Coast High Court has declared that the election Hon Quayson, Assin North MP was illegal and in contravention of article 94(2) of the constitution. His election as MP has been declared as ILLEGAL. The AG must continue to the High Court to prosecute him so he goes to jail.
— Rex (@RexKwasiDanquah) July 28, 2021
Assin North Parliamentary election annulled. The NDC has won that seat 3 times since 1992, the NPP has won it 4 times. In the 2020 election, the NDC won the seat by 3,305 votes. Another battle ahead. @Joy997FM @OfficialNDCGh @NPP_GH pic.twitter.com/WWQd7UfJ7u
— Elton Brobbey (@EltonBrobbey) July 28, 2021
Thank God for by-elections. Assin North constituents about to witness massive developmental projects. I like 👍🏽 😊👍🏽
— Mawuli Tsikata (@MawuliTsikata) July 28, 2021
If the man was having a dual citizenship, then how come he was even able to pick a form from the ECs office and for the people in Assin North to vote massively for him knowing he wasn’t eligible??? What country are we in koraaa!!!!
— Dorcas Boakyewaa Mensah (@MensahBoakyewaa) July 28, 2021