Court Issues Criminal Summon Against Assin North MP

James Gyekye Quayson

An Accra High Court has issued a criminal summon against the Member of Parliament for Assin North, James Gyekye Quayson following his refusal to appear before the court to face criminal charges levelled against him by the Attorney General.

The embattled MP has been charged with the offences of perjury, deceit of a public officer, misleading a public officer, among other charges.

The court on February 3 made an order for the charge sheet to be served on the accused person for him to appear for the trial.

But the Director of Public Prosecutions, Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa told the court that all efforts to serve the MP proved futile.

She said on February 3, the police posted a copy of the hearing notice on the inside door of the accused person at Manet Estate in Accra.

She said the case investigator again on February 7, posted a copy of the charge sheet on the MP’s house and an occupant of the house refused to received the charge sheet, stating that the MP had gone out.

She therefore, prayed the court to issue a warrant for the arrest of the MP to enable him appear before the court for trial.

However, the court presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Nsenkyire said an affidavit of non service indicate that the bailiff was unable to serve the MP.

The DPP subsequently prayed the court to issue a criminal summon on the MP which was granted by the court.

The criminal summon is to be posted on the wall of the MP’s home at Manet Estate.

The case was adjourned to February 15.

Charges

The MP has been charged, among others, for deceiving the the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by making a false statement that he did not have a dual citizenship in order to acquire a Ghanaian passport.

Mr. Quayson has also been charged with perjury for making a false statement at Assin Fosu, that he does not owe allegiance to any country other than Ghana, a statement he did not have a reason to believe to be true at the time of making it.

Again, the MP has been charged for making a false declaration for office when he knowingly said he does not owe allegiance to any country other than Ghana for the purpose of obtaining a public office as a Member of Parliament, a statement he knew to be material for obtaining that office.

In all, he has been charged with five criminal offenses.

BY Gibril Abdul Razak