James Gyakye Quayson

James Gyakye Quayson (born 9 October 1952) is a Ghanaian politician who currently serves as the Member of Parliament for the Assin North constituency.[1][2] Controversy: in violation of article 92 2a of Ghana’s constitution, a person shall not be qualified to be a member of parliament if he owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana. In a ruling therefore in April 2022, the Supreme Court of Ghana stripped Quayson of his position.[3]

Hon.
James Gyakye Quayson
Member of the Ghana Parliament
for Assin North
Assumed office
7 January 2021
Preceded byAbena Durowaa Mensah
Personal details
Born (1952-10-09) 9 October 1952
Political partyNational Democratic Congress
Alma materYork University
OccupationSocial Worker
CommitteesPrivileges
Local Government and Rural Development

Early life and education

Quayson was born on 9 October 1952 and hails from Assin Bereku in the Central Region of Ghana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Social Sciences and a master's degree in Urban Planning and Community Development.[4]

Career

Prior to being in parliament, he worked as a District Manager for the City of Toronto Employment and Social services.[4]

Politics

Quayson is a member of the National Democratic Congress and currently the member of parliament for Assin North Constituency in the Central Region of Ghana.[4]

Challenge to membership of parliament

In December 2020, a resident of Assin Bereku, Michael Ankomah-Nimfah filed a petition at the Cape Coast High Court questioning the eligibility of Quayson to be the MP for Assin North due to him being a dual citizen of Canada and Ghana at the time he filed his papers at the Electoral Commission of Ghana to stand in the 2020 Ghanaian general election. According to the Ghanaian constitution, no person with dual nationality may hold office in government or parliament.[5] The court upheld the petition and ordered a by-election for Assin North.[6] Quayson went to the Appeal Court to challenge the ruling. He continued to sit in parliament and this was challenged within the house as well.[7][1] The Supreme Court by a 5-2 majority decision ruled that he should stop holding himself as a member of parliament.[8][9] He has indicated his intention to contest the Supreme Court ruling.[10]

Committees

Quayson is a member of the Privileges Committee and also a member of the Local Government and Rural Development Committee.[4]

Personal life

Quayson is a Christian.[4]

References
  1. "James Quayson runs to Appeals Court to freeze his removal as Assin North MP". Citi Newsroom. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  2. "James Gyakye Quayson, Biography". Ghana Web. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  3. "Supreme Court orders Quayson to stop holding himself as MP". Graphic Online. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  4. "Parliament of Ghana". www.parliament.gh. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  5. "Assin North MP's case: Cape Coast High Court ruling deferred to July 28". GhanaWeb. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  6. "Cape Coast court orders another election in Assin North". GhanaWeb. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  7. Duodu, Samuel (25 March 2022). "James Gyakye Quayson's presence in Parliament questioned". Graphic Online. Accra: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  8. Hawkson, Emmanuel Ebo (13 April 2022). "Supreme Court orders Quayson to stop holding himself as MP". Graphic Online. Accra: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  9. Nartey, Laud (14 June 2022). "Supreme Court unanimously dismisses Gyakye Quayson injunction review". 3News.com. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  10. "Gyakye Quayson breaks silence after Supreme Court stopped him from performing MP duties". GhanaWeb. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.


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