James Gyakye Quayson

 

James Gyakye Quayson

human

Sex anaa gender	male
Country wey e be citizen	Ghana
Name in native language	James Gyakye Quayson
Given name	James
Family name	Quayson
Date of birth	9 October 1952
Place dem born am	Assin North District
Languages dem dey speak, wrep anaa sign	English, Fante
Occupation	politician, social worker
Position dem hold	Member of the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic of Ghana
Educate for	York University
Work location	Toronto
Political party ein member	National Democratic Congress
Candidacy in election	2020 Ghanaian general election

James Gyakye Quayson (dem born am 9 October 1952) be Ghanaian politician wey dem elect am make he serve as de Member of Parliament for de Assin North constituency insyd de 2020 General Elections until dem challenge ein eligibility insyd High Court. Controversy: for de violation of Article 92, Clause 2a of Ghana ein constitution, "person no fi qualify make he be member of parliament if he dey owe allegiance go country oda dan Ghana". Insyd a ruling for Wednesday, 28th July 2021, Cape Coast High Court preside over by Justice Kwasi Boakye wey dem declare make dem hold de 2020 parliamentary election insyd de Assin North constituency, null den void. Dem san re-elect after a by-election insyd 2023.

Early life and education

Quayson dey hail from Assin Bereku insyd de Central Region of Ghana. He gey ein secondary education for de prestigious Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast, completing in 1969. He holds a bachelor's degree insyd Social Sciences (1996) den a master's degree insyd Urban Planning den Community Development (2015) from York University insyd Toronto, Canada. He san hold BA General Arts with Majors in Political Science and Sociology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Career

Prior to he go parliament, he work as a District Manager for de City of Toronto Employment den Social services from 2020.

He san bi Social Services den Community Development Administrator den manager, as well as a framer.

Politics

Gyakye Quayson bi a member of de National Democratic Congress (NDC) den he bi a member of parliament for Assin North Constituency insyd de Central Region of Ghana.

Challenge to membership of parliament

Insyd December 2020, a resident of Assin Bereku, Michael Ankomah-Nimfah file a petition for de Cape Coast High Court wey he dey question ein eligibility of Quayson's MPship for Assin North sake of he dey hold dual citizen of Canada den Ghana at de time he file ein papers give de Electoral Commission of Ghana as he go stand insyd de 2020 Ghanaian general election wen nominations were dem close am on 9th October 2020. According to de Ghanaian constitution, no person wey gey dual nationality for hold office insyd de government or parliament. De court dey uphold de petition den order am by-election for Assin North constituency. De by-election wey dem hold am on de 27th of June, 2023.

Court proceedings

A Cape Coast High Court wey preside over by Justice Kwasi Boakye order say make dem do fresh parliamentary elections for de Assin North constituency after declaring de election null den void, Mr. Quayson go challenge de decision de High Court for de Appeals Court insyd wey ein application dem dismiss am.

Michael Ankomah-Nimfah, de plaintiff/applicant who file an election petition against Mr. Quayson dey initiate another action for de Supreme Court of Ghana wey he dey request say make de court allow de Cape Coast High Court judgment take effect as well as ego prevent am further breach of de 1992 Constitution of Ghana by restraining him as member of parliament (MP) since he dey continue to sit insyd parliament as MP den dis bi a challenge within de house as well.

On 13 April 2022, de Supreme Court by a 5-2 majority decision rule say dat he for de stop holding einself as a member for parliament. He indicate say make ein intention go contest de Supreme Court ruling by filing an application for De Supreme Court go review ein own decision. De Supreme Court set 13 June 2022 for de trial against Mr. Quayson after postponing ein application for review for restraining am say he go hold einself as MP den preventing ein to attend Parliament go conduct business on behalf for de people of Assin North constituency.

Insyd a unanimous decision by de Supreme Court of Ghana wey edey consist of Justices Jones Dotse, Nene Amegatcher, Mariama Owusu, Gertrude Torkonoo, Prof Henrietta Mensah Bonsu, Emmanuel Kulendi and Barbara Ackah Ayensu, presiding Judge Justice Jones Dotse on 17 May 2023 rule say de Electoral Commission of Ghana den act unconstitutionally by accepting de nomination for Mr. Quayson widout proof of citizenship renunciation before contesting for de 2020 parliamentary elections. De Apex court outline four reasons for arriving at dis decision insyd de case against Mr. James Gyakye Quayson wey dem sit well plus de minority, National Democratic Congress (NDC) den de defendant, Mr. Quayson wey edey express ein disappointment for de court ein decision.

By-elections

Insyd a letter to de Electoral Commission of Ghana (EC) on Monday, 29 May 2023, Parliament of Ghana declare de Assin North constituency seat vacant making way for a by-election. De EC announce 27 June 2023 as de date for de by-election insyd Assin North constituency insyd a press statement on Wednesday, 31 May 2023 den nomination will be receive from 12 to 14 June 2023.

Mr. Quayson, ein statement on 1 June 2023, officially declare say ein intention say he go contest for de Assin North constituency by-election plus ein support from ein party, de National Democratic Congress. On 27th June 2023, Mr. Quayson win de Assin North constituency by-election plus 17, 245 votes, wey edey constitute 57.56% votes cast. Dis figure dey indicate a significant reduction for ein votes wey he obtain insyd de 2020 general election, wey ebi 17,498 votes wey edey rep 55.21%.

James Gyakye Quayson, after emerging victorious insyd de by-election dem swear insyd for de second time as de Member of Parliament for Assin North on Tuesday, June 27, 2023.

Committees

Hon. Gyakye Quayson bi member of de House Committee den san bi a member for de Local Government den Rural Development Committee.

Personal life

James Gyakye Quayson bi a Christian.