Parliament Informs EC Of Vacancy

The Clerk to Parliament, Cyril Oteng Nsiah, has written to the Electoral Commission (EC) about the vacant seat of the Assin North Constituency.

The seat, once occupied by James Gyaakye Quayson, became vacant when the Supreme Court restrained him on Wednesday, April 13, 2023, from holding himself out as an MP following a suit by Michael Ankomah-Nimfa, a resident of Assin Breku in the Central Region.

The resident challenged Quayson’s qualification to stand and get elected as an MP following allegations that he held dual citizenship prior to contesting the MP position.

The former MP, however, argued that he had renounced his Canadian citizenship before contesting the Assin North parliamentary seat.

The petitioner earlier secured a high court ruling in his favour, however, the decision of the court was appealed by Quayson.

After the Appeal Court dismissed his case, he went on to the Supreme Court where the High Court decision was upheld.

In a letter dated May 29, the Clerk to Parliament formally informed the Electoral Commission about the vacancy left and asked her to take “appropriate consequential action as required by law”.

The EC is yet to respond to the letter.

This comes after a by-election was organised for the Kumawu Constituency in the Ashanti region following the death of Hon Philip Basoah.