Former NPP Deputy General Secretary Criticizes NDC for Allowing MP with Criminal Charges to Contest in By-Election
Nana Obiri Boahen, a former Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has voiced his disapproval of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for permitting James Gyakye Quayson, the former Member of Parliament for Assin North, to participate in the upcoming by-election despite facing criminal charges in the High Court.
Boahen expressed his dissatisfaction, emphasizing that if a similar situation were to arise within the NPP, he would personally confront party executives. Gyakye Quayson, whose name was recently removed from parliamentary records by the Supreme Court, is currently facing criminal-related charges in the High Court. However, the NDC leadership has announced that he will still contest in the Assin North by-election.
During an interview with Okay FM on June 2, 2023, Boahen questioned the NDC’s decision to support Quayson’s candidacy, asserting that no serious-minded politician would allow a candidate with pending criminal charges and a recent disqualification from parliament to run for election.
Boahen commented, “Gyakye Quayson is facing about ten crimes at the High Court. Sometimes when I argue with some NDC leaders, then I get sad and cry for Mother Ghana and Africa. Look, yesterday I listened to Sammy Gyamfi, and he was saying he is very happy that Gyakye Quayson is still coming to contest, and I also listened to a different network where their Deputy General Secretary was talking, and some of his words got me shaking my head.”
He further added, “If I, Obiri Boahen, were to witness such a scenario in the NPP whereby they would have allowed him to contest again, the way I would have gone to give some slaps to all the leaders of the NPP, I would slap them because for the Supreme Court to declare that one of our candidates was not qualified at the time of contesting and at the same time the said candidate is facing trial at the High Court, facing several counts and maybe NPP executives will say let him go and contest again, I would have gone to slap all of them… because no serious-minded politician will encourage this kind of thing.”
On May 17, the Supreme Court instructed Parliament to remove James Gyakye Quayson’s name as a Member of Parliament, ruling that he was ineligible to assume the role as he did not qualify at the time he contested the 2020 election. The court’s detailed reasoning behind the decision will be made available on June 7, 2023.
Currently, Mr. Quayson is facing multiple criminal charges, including deceit of a public officer, forgery of a passport or travel certificate, knowingly making a false statutory declaration, perjury, and false declaration for office. The Supreme Court’s order was in response to a writ filed by Michael Ankomah-Nimfa seeking the court’s interpretation of Article 94 Clause 2a of the 1992 Constitution, which addresses the eligibility of a person to contest as a Member of Parliament in Ghana.
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