After three years of legal battle regarding allegations of dual citizenship, James Gyakye Quayson, the Member of Parliament for Assin North has been acquitted and discharged by the Accra High Court.
The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, brings to an end, a long-standing legal battle over claims that Quayson held Canadian citizenship when he filed to contest the 2020 parliamentary elections—an act the prosecution argued breached the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. Mr. Quayson, who has denied the allegations several times, maintained that he renounced his Canadian citizenship prior to filing his nomination.
His acquittal followed a submission of no case to answer filed by Mr. Quayson’s legal team. In its decision, the court held that the prosecution had failed to prove the essential elements of the alleged offences.
The Court, presided over by Justice Mary Ekue Yanzuh ruled that the accused person had not made any false statements in his 2020 nomination forms. As at the time he declared that he owed allegiance to only Ghana, the court had found that he has already submitted an application to renounce his Canadian citizenship, which proved that he had no dishonest intent.
Speaking to the media after being discharged, Mr. Quayson expressed gratitude to God, his family and friends and said “they were trying to prosecute me but this is a court of law, and I am very proud that our lady Justice is a very decent human being”.
“This is a day for Assin North, Justice for Assin North and Justice for Ghana, it’s not about me, it is justice for everybody”, he added.
With the High Court’s ruling, the legal battle over Quayson’s parliamentary seat has been lifted, paving way for him to continue his work as a legislator without any legal blockade.
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