The Accra High Court has denied a plea by the lawyer for James Gyakye Quayson to halt proceedings pending the upcoming by-elections in Assin North which his client is contesting.
The court was of the view that the request made by Justine Terry-Waja is erroneous to the legal proceedings hence it cannot grant the request.
The parties in the case of the Republic Vs James Gyakye Quayson gave varied reasons in court on June 16, 2023, to which the court should or should not grant a plea to halt proceedings until the by-elections are done.
According to Justine Terry-Waja, the lawyer for James Gyakye Quayson, his client is on a national assignment as a candidate for the Assin North seat and hence pleads that the court adjourns until the by-election is done.
This was sharply objected to by the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah-Dame, who indicated that the plea is no national assignment as described, but a voluntary decision by the accused who ought to know the risk involved in his decision to contest the by-election pending, a decision of the court on his criminal case.
Therefore, the Attorney General prayed the court strictly stick to the time schedules slated for an expeditious trial.
The court having listened to the arguments raised ruled that the plea of the accused is overruled, scheduling June 21st to 23rd for the continuation of the case brought before it.
Meanwhile, a motion for further disclosure as prayed for by the accused’s lawyer Justine Terry-Waja was shot down by the same court presided over by Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzu.
Jame Gyakye Quayson’s legislatorship though has been declared null and void, he is currently standing trial at the Accra High Court over charges of the deceit of a public officer contrary to section 251, forgery of a passport contrary to section 15, knowingly making a false statutory declaration in contravention of the Statutory Declarations Act, 1971, and false declaration for office against section 248 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, Act (29).
By: Elvis Andoh | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
