Deputy Attorney General Chastises Parliament for Disregarding Court Ruling
The Deputy Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame has condemned Parliament for setting a bad precedent by allowing MP-elect for Assin North Constituency in the Central Region, James Gyakye Quayson to vote though there was a court injunction.
One Michael Ankoma filed a petition at the Cape Coast High Court restraining James Gyakye Quayson for not renouncing his Canadian citizenship before contesting as a Member of Parliament in the just-ended 2020 elections contrary to the provision of Article 94 (2) (a) of the 1992 constitution of Ghana, which states, “A person shall not be qualified to be a Member of Parliament if he – (a) owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana.”
The Cape Coast High Court therefore granted an injunction on James Gyakye Quayson and he was not expected to vote to elect the Speaker of Parliament.
However, the Clerk of Parliament Cyril Nsiah though confirmed to have received the court injunction allowed the Assin North MP-elect to vote.
The Deputy Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame in an interview during the inauguration of President Akufo-Addo condemned the precedent set by Parliament by disregarding the court ruling.
“For me I am quite surprise that Parliament would act in open disregard and defiance of a Court. The Clerk of Parliament admitted of being served with the order of injunctions and I was expecting the Clerk to do the needful that is to prevent the participation of the gentlemen in question in the vote but he himself voluntarily gave the ballot to person for me it was something not to be proud of.”
He noted that disregard to Court order is contempt and therefore the Lawyers involve in the case can pursue it.
Source: firstnewsroom.com
