Cape Coast High Court Cancels Assin North 2020 Parliamentary Election Results, Orders Fresh Polls

A Cape Coast High Court has canceled the parliamentary elections in the Assin North constituency in the 2020 parliamentary elections.

The Court presided over by Justice Kwasi Boakye has ordered for fresh elections to be conducted in the constituency.


The case of the petitioner is that the MP at the time of filing to contest the 2020 parliamentary elections, had not renounced his Canadian citizenship and thus held dual nationality.

He further avers that at the close of nominations on the 9th of October, the Assin MP had not still renounced his Canadian nationality.

"The Assin North MP who still holds himself as the MP is a complete violation of Article 94 (2a) and the court should declare his election null and void".
 
Handing his judgement on Wednesday, July 28, 2021, the judge said the MP, James Gyakye Quayson violated constitutional provisions and other statutory provisions that guide Ghana’s elections.

Speaking in an interview with Peacefmonline.com after the ruling, National Youth Organizer of the party, Lawyer Henry Nana Boakye who was in court today explained that they are happy about the judgement and expect that the Electoral Commission should as soon possible organize a bye election.

"As for the criminal aspect, we expect the Attorney General to take the matter up and deal with that," he added.

Background

After he was declared winner in the constituency's election, Mr. James Gyakye Quayson was dragged to court by Michael  Ankomah-Nimfa, a resident of Assin Bereku in the Central Region.

Michael Ankomah-Nimfa filed a petition at the Cape Coast Court seeking to annul the declaration of the MP for owing allegiance to Canada.