The former Eastern Regional Secretary of the NDC Mark Oliver Kevor has charged the National Leadership of the party to immediately come out over the seeming manipulation of the court to strip off some Parliamentary seats from the party.
He stated that “the majority of Ghanaians are looking up to the NDC Leadership now!! Your strategic response today will determine tomorrow”.
His comment on Facebook has generated many reactions reflecting seething anger over the court decision.
Dr. Steve Manteaw -Former Chairman of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) reacted, “I agree. That’s the way to grow our democracy. I challenge the NDC to begin developing an agenda for reforming our governance arrangements, beginning with the constitution and making our judiciary and state accountability institutions truly independent. Only then can we nurture some hope in our collective future”
The comments come few hours after the Cape Coast High court on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, granted an injunction suit against the Opposition NDC Member of Parliament-elect for the Assin North Constituency, James Gyakye Quayson.
The court ruled that James Gyakye Quayson cannot hold himself as the MP-elect for the constituency over dual citizenship claim against him.
This means, the MP-elect for Assin North, James Gyekye Quayson, will not be part of the swearing-in of the MPs for the 8th Parliament on the dawn of Thursday 7 January 2021 reducing the NDC MPs from 137 to 136 as against 137 NPP MPs plus an independent candidate.
The decision gives NPP caucus in Parliament the upper hand to elect the Speaker of Parliament.
Michael Ankomah a Mason and resident of Assin North filed a petition in Court that the MP-elect still held on to his Canadian citizenship when he was filing to contest in the December polls.
According to the petitioner, Mr. Quayson owes allegiance to both Ghana and Canada which contravenes the provision of Article 94 (2) (a) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana
He, therefore, urged the court to declare his position as MP-elect null and void.
However, the defendant was able to present the certificate of renunciation of his Canadian citizenship dated 27 November 2020 but the court went ahead to place an injunction on him preventing his swearing-in.
According to the lead defense counsel Lawyer Abraham Amaliba, an attempt to file a stay of execution shortly after the ruling at about 2:00pm failed as the Court clerk surprisingly locked his office and left ostensibly to prevent the legal team of the MP-elect from setting aside the ruling.
He described the ruling and subsequent action of the court as a travesty of justice by the NPP government to have a majority in Parliament at all cost
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
