James Gyaakye Quayson To Contest Assin North Seat In By-election

Ousted Assin North Member of Parliament, Jame Gyakye Quayson, has declared his intention to contest in the upcoming by-election.

The election is his topmost priority, he relayed in a press release dated June 1.

“I am determined to continue serving the good people of Assin North with all my heart, soul, body and all the resources I can muster for the benefit of my constituents,” a part of the five-page statement said.

This comes after Parliament notified the Electoral Commission about the vacant seat of the Assin North in a letter dated May 29 and requested the Commission to take “appropriate consequential action as required by law”.

The seat became vacant when the Supreme Court on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, anulled his election following a suit by Michael Ankomah-Nimfa, a resident of Assin Breku in the Central Region.

The resident challenged Quayson’s qualification to stand 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.

2020 Assin North Parliamentary Result
Quayson who contested on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) defeated his contender from the New Patriotic Party side, Abena Durowaa Mensah.

He polled 17,498 representing 55.2%. Abena garnered 14,193 representing 44.8%.

Since 1996, the NPP has won the seat four times; in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2016.

The NDC on the other hand said, has won thrice; in 1996, 2012 and 2020.