An application filed by Tsatsu Tsikata, Defense Counsel for the suspended Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson, to stay the proceedings of a trial court has failed to fly.
The Accra High Court, presided by Justice Mary Nsenkyire, yesterday could not find any bearings of the application filed at the Court of Appeal, and yet to be determined, on its operations.
According to the court, the mere filing of an application of stay at the Court of Appeal did not stall its proceedings.
She, therefore, ruled that the business for yesterday’s sitting was to hold a case management conference (CMC) to start the trial of the suspended MP, but only to be told by Mr. Tsikata that he “has indicated that he has filed a motion for stay of proceedings at the Court of Appeal.”
Meanwhile, “The filing of stay of proceedings at the Court of Appeal does not operate as a stay in this court,” hence, dismissed the application.
Hitherto, Mr. Tsikata had made another motion on notice for an order to strike out three of the 13 charges that Mr. Quayson has to answer.
Mr. Quayson has been charged by the state with deceiving a public officer with a false statement to acquire a Ghanaian passport or travel certificate, when he knew he had dual citizenship.
He has also been charged with knowingly making a false statutory declaration in contravention of the statutory declarations, perjury, and false declaration for office.
The court has slated June 1 for the hearing of the motion and commencement of the trial.
The Attorney-General’s office has given the indication that it would be calling five witnesses to prosecute the embattled MP.
In pursuance of the trial, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Yvonne Attakora Obuobisa, gave an indication at the last two sittings that she had filed all documents that the prosecution would be relying upon.
Mr. Quayson was barred from holding himself as MP by the Supreme Court on April 13, 2022, until the final determination of a suit challenging the constitutionality of his election as MP in a civil trial.
However, the criminal case being brought against Mr. Quayson by the state was as, he knew very well that at the time of filing for nomination for the 2020 parliamentary elections, he was deficient but stood and won the polls.
