Assin North Constituency Member of Parliament, James Gyakye Quayson has said that the possibility of ending up in prison does not scare him.
He elaborated that, despite facing perjury and forgery charges, he has faith in Ghana’s legal system. “No, why should I? I believe in the justice system, I’m sure. All I know is that the fundamental issue about any judicial matter is – did that person intend to commit the crime? Did he plan it? I have not planned anything of such.”
Mr. Quayson said he expects to be cleared of all charges in an interview broadcast on Citi TV in Accra on Tuesday, August 22. ” I don’t fear going to jail, not at all… My strongest conviction is that this is just a matter of time and that when you believe you have done the right thing, you shouldn’t be afraid.”
He was optimistic that the court would reach a favourable decision. “I trust my lawyers, I trust the conscience of the people. If they ask me again to run for Assin North seat, I would,” he added.
According to the Supreme Court’s reading of the 1992 Constitution, Quayson was not eligible to run for office in 2020 because, at the time he filed with the Electoral Commission, he was still a Canadian citizen despite having requested and been denied a renunciation certificate.
So, the results of the 2020 parliamentary election in Assin North were thrown out, and the seat was declared vacant.
The NDC allowed him to run again because he was now eligible to do so after receiving his certificate of renunciation of Canadian citizenship later in 2020. The criminal trial against him has not stopped him from being sworn in as the newly-elected representative after he easily won the by-election.
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