Assin North Member of Parliament (MP), James Gyakye Quayson, has been acquitted and discharged of all criminal charges brought against him, including forgery and perjury, by the Accra High Court.
The decision was delivered by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh, who ruled in favour of a no-case submission made by Quayson’s lead counsel, the renowned lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata.
The court concluded that the prosecution had failed to prove the essential elements of the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
Central to the case was the allegation that Quayson made false declarations on his 2020 parliamentary nomination forms regarding his citizenship status.
However, the court found credible evidence that Quayson had already initiated the process to renounce his Canadian citizenship before submitting his nomination, affirming his allegiance solely to Ghana.
Justice Yanzuh further highlighted inconsistencies and weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence, including contradictions in the passport summary sheet and the statutory declarations submitted. These discrepancies, she stated, undermined the credibility of the case and justified the dismissal.
With this ruling, Quayson will not be required to open a defence, as the court determined there was no substantive case for him to answer.
He had initially pleaded not guilty to five separate charges, which included forgery of a passport, perjury, and making false declarations to both the Passport Office and the Electoral Commission.
The judgment marks a significant legal and political victory for Quayson, who has been at the center of controversy since his election.
It also reinforces the principle of due process and the importance of presenting credible evidence in politically sensitive prosecutions.
