<<Print>>

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has disagreed with the Supreme Court's directive asking that the records of James Gyakye Quayson, Member of Parliament for the Assin North constituency be expunged from Parliament.

"As at the time of his election, James Gyakye Quayson was not a dual citizen, neither was he a dual citizen as at the time he took the oath of office as a Member of Parliament... It is therefore baffling that the Supreme Court could direct the removal from Parliament of such a person who has been duly elected as a Member of Parliament" he said in a statement issued Wednesday.

A seven-member panel of the Supreme Court ordered Parliament to expunge the name of the NDC MP.

In the ruling, the apex court barred Mr. Quayson from holding himself as an MP for Assin North.

Read Ato Forson's statement below

STATEMENT ON SUPREME COURT RULING DIRECTING PARLIAMENT TO REMOVE JAMES GYAKYE QUAYSON AS MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

The Minority Caucus has become aware of the Supreme Court's decision invalidating the nomination, election and subsequent swearing in of James Gyakye Quayson, Member of Parliament for Assin North, as being unconstitutional and of no legal effect, and subsequently directing Parliament to expunge his name from its records.

It is important to place on record that as at the time of his election, James Gyakye Quayson was not a dual citizen, neither was he a dual citizen as at the time he took the oath of office as a Member of Parliament.

The intention of the framers of Ghana's constitution is not to allow a dual citizen to perform the functions of a Member of Parliament.
 
It is therefore baffling that the Supreme Court could direct the removal from Parliament of such a person who has been duly elected as a Member of Parliament.

While we are yet to study the reasoning of the court in making its decision, it appears to be a slap in the face of our democracy and the rule of law.

We shall inform the public of our position upon reviewing the reasoning of the Court in arriving at its decision. We urge our rank and file to be calm while we pursue all legal avenues to ensure that justice is served.