The petitioner in the Assin North election petition case, Michael Ankomah-Nimfa, is asking the court to order another parliamentary election to be conducted in the constituency.
The lawyers of the petitioner made the submission during a court sitting on Wednesday, May 12, 2021.
One of the lawyers for Mr. Ankomah-Nimfa, Henry Nana Boakye, in briefing the media after the court hearing indicated that their request is supported with case evidence and that they have already filed their closing addresses.
He was hopeful that the judgement on the matter would be in favour of the petitioner.
“One of the reliefs we are seeking is for the court to order for a re-election to be conducted in Assin North. We have stated our case forcefully, and we have supported it with case evidence. We have even filed our closing addresses, and we are sure that the respondents will be served. All of these are just delay antics and just to drag the matter behind. But we are forthright and resolute that this matter will be determined, and it will be determined on the merit of the case and based on the 1992 constitution and the relevant laws regarding the qualification of an aspirant to be a candidate or to be elected as a member of parliament,” he said.
Michael Ankomah-Nimfa of Assin Bereku filed the petition at the Cape Coast High Court seeking to annul the declaration of Mr. James Gyakye Quayson as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency.
Mr. Quayson, the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) MP-elect, polled 17,498 votes against the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Madam Abena Durowaa Mensah, who had 14,793 in the December 7, 2020 election.
In November last year, a group calling itself ‘Concerned Citizens of Assin North’ petitioned the Electoral Commission in the Central Region to withdraw the candidature of Mr. Quayson, arguing that he owes allegiance to Canada.
He was challenged for having dual citizenship contrary to the expressed provision of Article 94 (2) (a) of the 1992 constitution of Ghana, which states, “A person shall not be qualified to be a member of Parliament if he – (a) owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana.”
Meanwhile, the Cape Coast High Court 3 has adjourned the case to May 18, 2021.
