Gyakye Quayson – I won’t cry anymore
James Gyakye Quayson, a member of parliament (MP) for Assin North, has stated that his days of suffering are ended.
Prior to the June 27 bye-election, he said that he used to become extremely emotional and in tears whenever he stood at a podium to address residents.
He claimed that this was due to his pending trial, which was having an impact on the Assin North constituency.
But his success has made him more resilient to face any challenges that come his way in his political career.
When speaking to Assin North constituents on Sunday during a service of thanksgiving to celebrate his reelection, Mr. Quayson made these remarks.
“Many of you noticed that I become emotional everytime I stand in front of you to talk from 2020 until the day we held the elections, and that it was because I was concerned about what my people were going through.
“God has blessed us and has been grateful. I, James Gyason will not cry again because you have made me, Assin North, Ghana and Africa victorious,” he said amidst loud cheers from the people present.
In a bye-election held on June 27, 2023, Mr Quayson beat the NPP’s Charles Opoku to retain the seat for the NDC.
He had 57.56% of all votes cast while Charles Opoku got 42.155 of votes cast. The Liberal Party of Ghana’s Bernice Sefenu got 0.29%.
The exercise was necessitated by a Supreme Court ruling that the Electoral Commission (EC) acted unconstitutionally in allowing Mr Quayson to contest the 2020 parliamentary election without proof of him renouncing his Canadian Citizenship.
The apex court, therefore, ordered parliament to expunge Mr Quayson’s name from its records as a Member of Parliament as his election and swearing-in were unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on the back of this declared the seat vacant with the EC directed to hold a fresh election.
Meanwhile, Mr Quayson is still facing charges of perjury and forgery bothering on whether he had renounced his Canadian citizenship at the time he filed his nomination forms to contest the 2020 polls.
There are currently calls for the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, to discontinue the case.