The government is not stopping Quayson from running for the Assin North seat, according to the Deputy Attorney General.

 

Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, Deputy Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, has denied reports that the government is attempting to prevent National Democratic Congress parliamentary candidate James Gyakye Quayson from contesting the June 27 by-election in the Assin North constituency. 

Speaking after Mr. Quayson's application for the High Court to vary its order to hear his case on a daily basis was adjourned to Wednesday, June 21, Mr. Tuah-Yeboah said the allegations are far-fetched in the sense that the court has the right to hear pending cases because Mr. Qyason has the right to contest in the poll.

"It's not about him not being able to run in the elections." "He has the right to contest, and the state has the right to hear cases that are currently pending in court," he added.

Mr. Atuah-Yeboah also justified the court's daily hearing of Quayson's case.

Lawyers for Quayson are attempting to prevent the case from being heard every day, which they say would harm the accused's campaign in the Assin North by-election as the NDC's parliamentary candidate.

Many have condemned the administration for seeking to prevent the former MP from running for the seat he previously held in the 2020 election. 

The NDC, through its Deputy General Secretary, Mustapha Gbande, accused the government of attempting to influence the court in the criminal case against the MP candidate running in the by-election.

Mr. Quayson is facing perjury and forgery charges after running in the Assin North parliamentary election in 2020 while having dual citizenship.

Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that his name be removed from Parliament's records, paving the path for a by-election to be called.

Despite the criminal allegations against him, the NDC selected Mr. Quayson as its candidate for the by-election.