High Court Acquits Assin North MP Quayson

 

In a landmark ruling delivered on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, the High Court has acquitted and discharged the Member of Parliament for Assin North James Gyakye Quayson bringing an end to a protracted legal battle over allegations of dual citizenship.

Quayson was facing five criminal charges including forgery of a passport or travel certificate,\ knowingly making a false statutory declaration, perjury and false declaration for office. These charges stemmed from claims that he held Canadian citizenship at the time he filed to contest the 2020 parliamentary elections—a move the prosecution argued contravened Article 94(2)(a) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, which bars dual citizens from holding parliamentary office.

However in a decisive ruling the court upheld a submission of no case to answer filed by Quayson’s legal team. The judge stated that the prosecution had failed to prove key elements of the alleged offences and ruled that there was insufficient evidence to require the MP to mount a defence.

According to the court at the time Mr. Quayson filed his nomination forms in 2020, he had already initiated the process to renounce his Canadian citizenship—indicating no intent to deceive the Electoral Commission or other state authorities.

The prosecution was unable to establish that the accused made false declarations or had any dishonest intent, the judge noted. The court further highlighted inconsistencies in the testimony of prosecution witnesses including contradictions in passport summary sheets and statutory declarations that were tendered as evidence.

Speaking to the media after the ruling a visibly relieved James Gyakye Quayson expressed gratitude to his legal team, supporters and constituents for standing by him throughout the ordeal.

I have always maintained my innocence, and today the court has affirmed that I acted lawfully,” he stated. “This ruling is not just a personal victory but a testament to the resilience of our democratic and judicial processes.

The legal controversy surrounding Quayson began shortly after the 2020 general elections when allegations surfaced that he had not fully renounced his Canadian citizenship before submitting his nomination to contest the Assin North seat. Although he won the election, his victory was later challenged in court, leading to a by-election in 2023, which he also won resoundingly.

Despite regaining his seat in Parliament, Quayson continued to face criminal charges initiated by the state. His legal team consistently argued that he had completed the necessary steps to relinquish his Canadian citizenship before filing his nomination, and that the charges were politically motivated.

With this ruling the legal cloud that has hovered over Quayson’s political career for the past few years has finally been lifted. He is now free to continue his work as a legislator without any legal hindrances.

Political observers believe the ruling could set a precedent for how allegations of dual citizenship are handled in future electoral disputes especially in cases where candidates have demonstrated good faith efforts to comply with constitutional requirements.