Over the weekend, prominent National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament (MPs) launched a campaign in the Assin North Constituency to rally support for James Gyakye Quayson ahead of the June 27 by-election. Led by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Joyce Tetteh, and Dorcas Affo-Toffey, the campaign, dubbed “Church to Church, Market to Market,” involved visiting various towns and villages within the constituency. The MPs aimed to rectify what they viewed as an injustice after the Supreme Court nullified Quayson’s election in the 2020 parliamentary elections due to his dual citizenship.
Expressing her satisfaction with the campaign, MP Dorcas Affo-Toffey took to Facebook, stating, “It was a successful house to house, church to church, market to market campaign at the Assin North Constituency in the Central Region. This is in support of the NDC candidate James Gyakye Quayson in the June 27 by-election.” The focus of their message to the electorate was to garner support for Quayson and ensure his victory in the upcoming by-election. They aimed to overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling and rectify what they deemed an injustice.
The Supreme Court’s decision to nullify James Gyakye Quayson’s election was based on a case filed by Michael Ankomah Nimfah against Quayson, the Electoral Commission (EC), and the Attorney-General. On May 17, 2023, the Supreme Court ordered Parliament to remove Quayson’s name from its records as a sitting MP. The court concluded that Quayson’s election process, including the filing of nomination forms, the election itself, and the subsequent swearing-in, violated Article 94(2)(a) of the 1992 Constitution, which prohibits individuals with dual citizenship from contesting as MPs. The court found that Quayson had not renounced his Canadian citizenship at the time of filing his nomination forms, rendering him ineligible per the Constitution.
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, Parliament notified the Electoral Commission of the vacancy in the Assin North Constituency. Consequently, the EC scheduled a by-election for June 27, 2023, to fill the vacant seat. This by-election serves as an opportunity for the NDC and its MPs to rally support for James Gyakye Quayson and attempt to reverse the court’s decision, arguing that it was unjust and unfair.
