The re-elected MP for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson, on Tuesday, July 4, received congratulations from the Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu following his swearing-in ceremony presided by Speaker Alban Bagbin.

Despite acknowledging that Mr. Quayson's victory in the Assin North by-election is a significant win that may dent the pride of the NPP, he reassured that the party would respect and accept the decision made by the electorate of Assin North.

“Indeed, we must congratulate him. That is the choice made by the people of Assin North, and we must, everybody must respect that while it lasts,” Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stated while addressing parliament on Tuesday, July 4 after Mr Quayson was sworn-in.

Despite offering congratulations to his colleague, the Majority Leader issued a cautionary message to Mr. Quayson, highlighting the temporary nature of his tenure as an MP.

Implicitly referring to the upcoming legal proceedings against the incumbent MP, Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu emphasized that Mr. Quayson's position in the House currently hinges on the decision of the Attorney-General.

“Mr Speaker, the rest of it, as we move from here, is in the hands of the Attorney-General,” the legislator stressed.

He also maintained that the chances of Mr Quayson staying in office for long were very low.

Moreover, the Majority Leader added that, “the parliamentary group of the NPP also believes that this is a momentary victory of phantasmal character that certainly will not last.

Despite Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s warning, he said that the Majority Caucus is ready to welcome Mr Quayson into parliament.

The Majority Leader told the House that “While he [Gyakye Quayson] remains here, we can only embrace him as a Member of Parliament, and we welcome him here to be part of the fraternity while it lasts.”

Meanwhile, the NPP has since congratulated Mr Quayson for his victory in the Assin North by-election.

According to the party, the NDC’s victory in the by-election adds to Ghana’s democratic credentials.

“Indeed, the recent two by-elections have demonstrated the strength of the country’s democracy with outcomes favouring different political parties. This is a testament to Ghana’s much touted accolade as a bastion.”

Background

On Tuesday, July 4, James Gyakye Quayson was officially sworn in as the Member of Parliament for Assin North, following his victory in the by-election held on Tuesday, June 27.

His win comes after the Supreme Court ruling on May 17, which declared his previous election invalid and barred him from holding the position. However, he successfully regained his seat in the by-election and now assumes his role as the representative of Assin North.

His primary opponent, Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party, secured second place with 12,630 votes or 42.15% of the valid votes. Meanwhile, Bernice Enam Sefanu of the Liberal Party of Ghana received only 87 votes or 0.29%.

The voter turnout was reported to be high at 74.23%, according to officials from the Electoral Commission.

Mr. Quayson is currently facing charges of forgery and perjury, as filed by the Attorney-General's Office. He is accused of deceiving a public officer and making a false declaration by not renouncing his Canadian citizenship when filing nominations for the 2020 election.

However, Mr. Quayson has filed a motion on notice at the High Court, requesting a stay of proceedings until an appeal can be determined. The applicant seeks an order to suspend the ongoing court proceedings while awaiting the outcome of the appeal filed on June 27, 2023.