The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame of being biased. The party claims that the government has been unfairly preoccupied with issues involving NDC members instead of other pressing matters.
The NDC said in a statement issued to the press that the trial of Assin North Member of Parliament James Gyakye Quayson would prove their point.
“The AG may want to use whatever legal gymnastics to try to make it look as if these prosecutions are so legally, factually, and sufficiently evidence-based, but to the ordinary observer who has followed all that has gone on, know, this is no prosecution at all but persecution”.
“So the AG, Godfred Yeboah Dame, can try to spin the law, even on appeal, to get favourable decisions, but every reasonable observer can read between the lines.”
“We are happy the AG understands, appreciates, and sees the need for freedom of speech, and we hope that his expressions on freedom of speech in his Press Release is something he truly believes in and not just mere expressions on paper.”
The NDC Legal Directorate has also urged Godfred Dame to divert his attention from prosecuting NDC members to other high-profile matters, including as the murder trial of JB Danquah and the former CEO of Menzgold.
“We also want a speedy trial in the Menzgold, Ahmed Suale, Major Mahama, and J. B. Danquah cases, and on this basis, can they kindly also apply for daily trials in these cases too? Justice must be seen to be pursued and done to all manner of persons and in all cases.”
The Supreme Court of Ghana declared that Mr Quayson could not run for reelection in 2020 because he had not renounced his Canadian citizenship in time. The office of the Attorney General accused members of Parliament of deceiving public officials in order to obtain state documents.
On February 12, 2022, the state filed five counts against James Gyakye Quayson: deceit of a public officer, forgery of a passport, deliberately making a false statutory statement, perjury, and false declaration
According to Mr Tuah-Yeboah, on July 26, 2019, the accused signed an application form for a passport in the Republic of Ghana, stating that he is a citizen of Ghana and does not hold dual citizenship.
The deputy attorney general stated that Mr Quayson, at the time, possessed Canadian citizenship issued on October 30, 2016, but that he had forgotten to include this fact on the application.
