We’ll Not Participate In Parliamentary Business Anytime Gyakye Quayson Is In Court – Minority

The Minority in Parliament has announced that they will abstain from Parliamentary proceedings on days MP for Assin North James Gyakye Quayson is scheduled to appear in court for a criminal case against him.

The Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, announced this on the floor of Parliament after Mr Quayson was sworn in today (Tuesday, July 4, 2023) as Member of Parliament for Assin North.

According to Dr Forson, they will go to court with their colleague as a show of solidarity and will not participate in proceedings of the day.

“We wish to serve notice that the entire Minority will accompany our colleague today and any other days that he is to appear in court. We are solidarising with our colleague, and will not participate in the business of the House anytime our colleague is in court, and we will be withdrawing from the Chamber after this ceremony if the court processes happen today,” he said.

The decision, he added, is intended to protest what the Minority sees as Mr Quayson’s ongoing persecution.

Mr Quayson is facing 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.

It will be recalled that Mr Quayson was kicked out of Parliament for having dual citizenship before filing his nomination forms in the 2020 elections.

This necessitated the highly publicised and keenly contested by-election in Assin North, in which Quayson emerged victorious with 17,245 votes, representing 57.56% of valid votes.