Angry National Democratic Congress (NDC) Executives, Branch Executives, Party Supporters, and Residents from the Assin North Constituency in the Central Region have described the Supreme Court ruling on Assin North Member of Parliament (MP), Hon. James Gyakye Quayson as wicked, lacks common sense and not developmental-oriented.
Addressing the press in a Press Conference at the Assin North NDC Party Office, the Central Regional Elections Director, Mr. Daniel Nartey said that they are very disappointed and saddened by the ruling of the Supreme Court.
He stated that they believe that James Gyakye Quayson ‘s renunciation certificate came on November 26, 2020, before the December 7, 2020 election, and the fact that the Electoral Commission cleared the MP to contest the election, makes him qualified to contest in the election.
They believe that the judges who sat on the case did not do justice to the good people of the Assin North.
He added that the judgment was politically motivated by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the sense that, the MP was removed from office for more than one year before the Supreme Court’s ruling.
He stressed that they know the Assin North MP went through the proper laid down procedures in picking nomination at the Electoral Commission Office which upon going through his documents cleared him to contest.
He said it is very difficult for them to accept the Supreme ruling after James Gyakye Quayson went through the right and due process as provided by the Electoral Commission.
According to him, the ruling was against the people of the Assin North, not the members of Parliament in person.
In addition, the Assin North Constituency Chairman, Felix Benefo said that the Supreme Court ruling against James Gyakye Quayson is being influenced by the Assin Central Member of Parliament who is now seeking to lead the NPP into the 2024 general election, Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
According to him, Kennedy Agyapong made a declaration earlier that he will make sure James Gyakye Quayson does not last in office as a Member of Parliament if he wins the 2020 Elections and this is in the public domain
“We perceive this to have had an impact on this ruling juxtaposing it to the comment made by Ken Dapaah, Minister of National Security. We are of the view that this is a ruling for the NPP, not justice for the people” he added.
He said they are not surprised because data has shown that Ghanaians have lost confidence in the judiciary system.
He believes that it is for this reason that Hon. Ken Dapaah, at a forum, indicated that it will be dangerous for the judiciary to be perceived to be biased in the delivery of Justice.
He said if the interpretation of the law always favors the government, it will become very worrying as the people may no longer trust the Judiciary in the delivery of Justice.
Some of the party members also spoke to Otech FM and stated that they remain resolute and committed to working hard to retain the seat.
“We are sounding warning them that, if they try to unleash violence as they did in the December 7 2020 Elections by spoiling our MP’s car by using state securities, we shall retaliate squarely, moreover, we are ready to match the NPP boot for boot as it will be a do or die affair,” they added.