James Gyakye Quayson, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, has officially been cleared of all charges by the High Court regarding allegations of dual citizenship.
The judgment, announced on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, marks the end of a prolonged legal dispute that stemmed from accusations that Quayson held Canadian citizenship while running for office in the 2020 parliamentary elections, something the prosecution claimed was against Ghanaian law.
Quayson has always denied these allegations, asserting that he renounced his Canadian citizenship before submitting his nomination form. Following the ruling, he expressed a sense of relief at the court’s conclusion.
The acquittal came after Quayson’s legal team, led by Tsatsu Tsikat, presented a no-case submission. The court determined that the prosecution failed to establish the crucial components of the alleged offences.
The judge found that Quayson did not submit any false information on his nomination form. At the time he declared allegiance solely to Ghana, evidence showed he had already filed for the renunciation of his Canadian citizenship, indicating there was no intent to deceive.
Additionally, the court identified inconsistencies in the documents and statements made by prosecution witnesses, which called into question the reliability of their evidence.
Consequently, the judge ruled that there was insufficient reason to require Quayson to present a defense.
Quayson faced five charges, including forgery of travel documents, making false statutory declarations, perjury, and misrepresentation in his declarations for office.
According to the prosecution, he allegedly misled the Passport Office and the Electoral Commission by claiming he had no allegiance to any country other than Ghana.
With the High Court’s decision, the legal challenges that have overshadowed Quayson’s parliamentary position have been resolved, enabling him to fulfill his duties as a legislator without any further legal hindrance.
